There is a recurring debate in America over the impact of the growing productivity and capabilities of U.S. agribusiness and the toll it takes on the environment. In other words, how can the United States grow more agricultural products and create enough energy to satisfy the needs of its people without damaging the environment beyond repair? This is a complex problem that remains at the forefront…
Good jobs do not magically appear. Anyone who has been in the job market knows that landing the right job takes planning, preparation, perseverance, and patience. This is true whether you are looking for your first job, reentering the job market, trying to get a new job, or planning a mid-career change. This essay is designed to guide you through the process of finding a job, from helping you defi…
Education and Training: None Salary: Starting—$8.50 per hour Employment Outlook: Poor Cheese industry workers change milk into cheese. They make several varieties of cheese from the hard, soft, and semisoft base products. Each of these types of cheeses uses different ingredients, which the workers blend, cook, and prepare in a different manner. Some of the work in cheese production is done …
Education and Training: High school Salary: Average—$16.60 per hour Employment Outlook: Poor Dairy plants turn raw milk into products like cream, butter, and homogenized milk. Dairy plants are heavily automated with equipment that processes and packages milk and milk products. The main job of a dairy industry worker is to maintain, operate, and repair the equipment. Modern plants equipped w…
Education and Training: Varies—see profile Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Good Divers work underwater, performing many jobs. Large diving contracting companies employ divers to do construction and maintenance work on offshore oil rigs. Other divers work for law enforcement agencies or insurance investigation firms, looking for accident victims, wreckage, or lost valua…
Education and Training: None Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Fair—see profile Farm laborers work on all kinds of farms in all sections of the country. Laborers perform routine tasks that involve the care of animals and crop cultivation. Their specific duties vary, depending on the kind of farm for which they work. Most full-time laborers work for large farms, since sma…
Education and Training: None Salary: Median—$8.19 per hour Employment Outlook: Poor The fishing industry is located mainly in towns and cities along the seacoasts. Also, there is limited commercial fishing in the Great Lakes. Fishers may stay near the shore or go hundreds of miles out to sea, depending on the kinds of fish they seek. They may use small boats or large, modern ships. Some fis…
Education and Training: None Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Poor Loggers cut down trees and load the logs onto trailers and railroad cars. Most loggers work for large lumber companies. Approximately half of the loggers in the United States work in Oregon, Washington, California, Alabama, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Georgia. Fallers are loggers who cut down trees marked by …
Education and Training: High school Salary Range: Median—$11.59 per hour Employment Outlook: Fair Lumber mill workers make lumber from raw logs. They sort the logs into different sizes and kinds of wood. In the lumber mill they saw and cut the logs into various widths and lengths. Some workers may prepare rough lumber for industrial use. Other workers prepare lumber for dispatch to planing …
Education and Training: High school Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Fair Meat packers work in large meat packing plants or smaller slaughterhouses that prepare beef, lamb, and pork. They use several kinds of knives, cleavers, and saws to do their work. Most of their work is done on assembly lines. Raw meat passes through about forty-five different operations before it is read…
Education and Training: None Salary: Average—$21.57 per hour Employment Outlook: Poor Coal is used as fuel and in the production of steel and plastics. Raw coal is found in deposits in the earth. Coal miners bring coal to the surface. They transport coal to preparation plants where preparation plant operators process the raw coal according to buyers' needs. Miners also work to ensure…
Education and Training: Varies—see profile Salary: Average—$21.95 per hour Employment Outlook: Poor Metal miners take mineral ore out of the earth from open or surface pits. They take the rest from underground mines. After the ore is collected, cleaned, and sorted, it is ready for use in manufacturing. In open-pit mining, miners strip away the earth and then tear out the ore with pow…
Education and Training: None Salary: Median—$12.30 per hour Employment Outlook: Good Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators who work on crops and vegetation mix pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides and apply them through sprays, dusts, or vapors. These chemicals kill pests and insect infestations that devastate crops, gardens, and trees. Some pesticide handlers work fo…
Education and Training: None Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Fair Oil and gas are used to produce fuel and to manufacture chemicals, plastics, and other products. Petroleum and natural gas exploration and production workers find sources of oil and gas and work for oil companies or for drilling contractors backed by oil companies. They drill underground or on the ocean floor t…
Education and Training: None Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Poor Tobacco and cigarette manufacturing workers process raw tobacco into finished products. They prepare tobacco for manufacturing, and they manufacture cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, several types of chewing tobacco, and snuff. Tobacco farmers cure, sort, and grade tobacco for sale at auctions where representat…
Education and Training: High school Salary: Median—$34,960 per year Employment Outlook: Good Wastewater treatment plant operators are responsible for the purification of wastewater. They remove harmful organisms, solid wastes, and toxic chemicals (such as lead and mercury) from domestic and industrial wastewater. They then return the treated water to the rivers and oceans. Wastewater treatm…
Education and Training: Two-year college Salary: Average—$13.74 per hour Employment Outlook: Good Agricultural technicians are employed in all phases of the agribusiness industry. Many work for scientists involved in plant and animal research. Technicians relieve highly paid professionals such as agronomists, animal and dairy scientists, and food technologists of routine duties. Technicians…
Education and Training: Two-year college or vocational/technical school Salary: Starting—$16.98 per hour Employment Outlook: Good In recent years the public has shown widespread concern with the quality of the nation's air. As a result, state and federal laws now limit air pollution from automobiles, industry, and tobacco. In addition, local, state, and federal agencies have been est…
Education and Training: Varies—see profile Salary: Median—$10.60 per hour Employment Outlook: Good Animal trainers train animals for a wide range of reasons. Some trainers work with large animals such as elephants, lions, or dolphins to train them to perform in front of large groups of people. Others train dogs or other small pets to be more obedient at home. Some train horses or dog…
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$38,550 per year Employment Outlook: Very Good Environmental engineering technicians assist environmental engineers and scientists to prevent, control, and eliminate environmental hazards. They primarily inspect, test, decontaminate, and operate equipment used to control and remediate environmental pollution, including waste treatment and site …
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$16.99 per hour Employment Outlook: Good Environmental science and protection technicians conduct laboratory and field tests to determine the level and sources of pollution in the environment. To do this, they may have to collect samples of environmental resources to test them in a laboratory. Then, usually under the supervision of an environme…
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$13.40 per hour Employment Outlook: Poor Also known as service technicians, farm equipment mechanics service, maintain, and repair different kinds of farm equipment. In the past, farmers did their own repairs on the farm; but with more complex and advanced machinery, electronics, and hydraulics, farmers now use highly trained farm equipment mec…
Education and Training: Varies—see profile Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Poor Most of the nation's eggs, chickens, turkeys, and ducks come from farms that specialize in poultry production. The majority of these farms are located in the East and in California. Many are owned and operated by individual farmers and their families. Some poultry farms are owned by …
Education and Training: Varies—see profile Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Poor Vegetable farmers raise and harvest vegetables for profit. They farm in every state and in every climate. They may work on large farms that cover up to six thousand acres and operate year-round, or they may work on seasonal farms of less than 150 acres. Tenant farmers rent the land they wor…
Education and Training: Varies—see profile Salary: Median—$47,680 per year Employment Outlook: Good Fish hatchery managers direct and coordinate the activities of fish hatchery workers. Fish hatcheries and marine farms trap and spawn fish, incubate eggs, and rear fish according to management and fish culturing techniques. Managers determine, administer, and execute policy relating to…
Education and Training: High school plus training Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Poor Forestry technicians help professional foresters manage forest resources. They work for federal and state government agencies that manage public forest lands used for recreation and conservation purposes. Some technicians work for private companies engaged in logging and manufacturing paper…
Education and Training: College plus training Salary: Median—$19.35 per hour Employment Outlook: Poor Geological and petroleum technicians assist scientists to find potential sources of metallic ore, gas, or petroleum. To do this, they lower electrical, sonic, or nuclear measuring equipment directly into wells, or they may collect a sample of mud from the bottom of a well. They use scanning…
Education and Training: Varies—see profile Salary: Median—$15.90 per hour Employment Outlook: Good Industrial societies generate a tremendous amount of hazardous waste material every day. For many years this waste was simply buried in the ground or dumped at sea. In time it became clear that careless disposal of hazardous waste harmed the environment and caused health problems. Scien…
Education and Training: Two-year college Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Poor Mining technicians provide technical assistance to professional engineers in coal and metal mining. Mining technicians work in exploration and development, in production, and in preparation. During preparation, sometimes called beneficiation, the technicians separate the desired ore from rock and ot…
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$37,172 per year Employment Outlook: Good Nursery/greenhouse managers oversee the daily operations of a greenhouse and/or nursery. They manage the care of plants, flowers, and trees; hire and coordinate nursery and greenhouse workers; and observe environmental standards for agricultural and horticultural production. An experienced and effective…
Education and Training: Varies—see profile Salary: Median—$7.55 per hour Employment Outlook: Poor Nursery workers plant, tend, and sell plants and trees. They work in retail and wholesale nurseries. Wholesale nurseries supply plant materials to retail stores, florists, and landscapers. Retail nurseries sell directly to the general public. Some retail nurseries are part of large garde…
Education and Training: High School plus training Salary: Median—$12.38 per hour Employment Outlook: Poor Recycling and reclamation workers turn old products, used appliances, and automobiles into useful, environmentally safe raw materials. Scrap metal processing workers sort and prepare metals for recycling. For example, some scrap metal processing workers work in plants where aluminum can…
Education and Training: Varies—see profile Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Varies—see profile Small animal breeders raise and market fur-bearing animals and animals used in laboratory experiments. Fur farmers raise animals such as minks, chinchillas, foxes, rabbits, and squirrels. Fur-bearing animals are bred for the quality of their pelts, or skin. Breeders usu…
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$11.99 per hour Employment Outlook: Excellent Veterinary technicians assist veterinarians in providing care to animals. They perform routine laboratory procedures and clinical procedures, such as taking blood, dispensing and giving medication, and performing medical tests, all under the supervision of a veterinarian. They are familiar with a ra…
Education and Training: High School plus training Salary: Median—$34,960 per year Employment Outlook: Good Water treatment plant and system operators treat contaminated water so that it is safe to drink. Pumped from wells, rivers, streams, and reservoirs to water treatment plants, water then undergoes a series of processes that remove or destroy harmful materials and microorganisms. System …
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$56,520 per year Employment Outlook: Good Agricultural engineers use their knowledge to solve the problems of farmers and the agricultural industry. They work to improve the quality and increase the production of farm products. Most agricultural engineers work for manufacturing companies that design and supply equipment. In these companies engi…
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$14.92 per hour Employment Outlook: Poor Agricultural inspectors make sure that businesses comply with federal and state laws and regulations that govern the health, quality, and safety of meat, poultry, egg products, fruit, and vegetables. They also inspect food- and meat-processing plants to ensure that the facilities meet quality standards. …
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$51,200 per year Employment Outlook: Fair Agronomists are plant and soil scientists who study and try to improve on the process of growing farm crops. They help farmers use their land more effectively and suggest methods to increase yields. Agronomists also aid in solving or preventing problems with soil and crops. Many agronomists work for the…
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$49,920 per year Employment Outlook: Fair Animal scientists conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, and development of domestic farm animals in order to formulate more efficient ways of producing and processing meat, poultry, eggs, and milk. To that end, animal scientists consult with agricultural producers on how to provide …
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$52,480 per year Employment Outlook: Poor Conservation scientists work with private landowners and federal, state, and local governments to manage, improve, and protect America's natural resources. Usually this involves advising and consulting with farmers and ranchers on the best ways in which they can improve their land and productivit…
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$48,670 per year Employment Outlook: Poor Crop scientists work to increase the yield of field crops by improving farming methods and developing new plant strains. Scientists generally specialize in farming production or crop development. Some specialize in particular crops, such as grains or cotton. Others work in weed control. Crop scientists …
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$66,480 per year Employment Outlook: Excellent Environmental engineers strive to solve environmental problems such as water and air pollution, waste disposal, and public health issues. As engineers, they use advanced principles of biology, chemistry, and environmental science to protect wildlife and natural resources as well as human life. Envi…
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$51,080 per year Employment Outlook: Good Environmental scientists work to regulate, control, and prevent air, land, and water pollution. They conduct research to find pollutants or hazards in our environment and then propose a plan to eliminate them, all the while maintaining a balance between the needs of the natural environment and the econo…
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$54,900 per year Employment Outlook: Poor The size and complexity of many farms have created a strong demand for managers to oversee and coordinate farming operations. The extent of a farm manager's duties and responsibilities depends on the size and nature of the operation. Farm managers might supervise a small farm and even perform som…
Education and Training: Varies—see profile Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Poor Cotton, tobacco, and peanuts are among the major agricultural crops produced in the United States. Farmers usually specialize in growing just one of these crops. Many cotton, tobacco, and peanut farmers own their land and equipment. Others are tenant farmers who rent the land they farm. Ano…
Education and Training: Varies—see profile Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Poor Dairy farmers breed and raise cows and supply milk to the milk and milk products industries. Dairy farmers usually own their herds and the farmland. Although most dairy farms are owned and operated by families, some milk comes from very large farms owned by corporations and operated by farm…
Education and Training: Varies—see profile Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Poor Fruit farmers grow and market fruit for profit. They own their orchards and vineyards. Fruit farmers generally specialize in one kind of fruit depending on the region in which they live. Citrus fruit, a major crop in the United States, is grown mainly in Florida, California, Texas, and Ariz…
Education and Training: Varies—see profile Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Poor Grain farmers grow grains such as corn, wheat, rye, and others, including grain sorghums. Farmers generally specialize in two or three types of grain. Many grain farmers own their land and work for themselves. Some farms are owned by large corporations that hire farm managers to oversee the…
Education and Training: Varies—see profile Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Poor Livestock farmers raise animals for profit. The most important livestock are cattle, swine, sheep, and goats, raised for food, their hides, or their hair. A few livestock farmers raise horses, mules, or donkeys as draft animals—animals that pull loads or machinery. Livestock farmers …
Education and Training: College Salary: Average—$48,230 per year Employment Outlook: Poor Foresters manage, develop, and protect forest lands and resources. Foresters work for the U.S. Forest Service and for state and local forest management agencies. They also work for private companies in the logging, timber, paper, and wood pulp industries. Some teach in colleges and graduate schools of …
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$64,690 per year Employment Outlook: Poor Mining engineers plan mining operations and design underground and surface mines. They also design mining equipment and supervise technicians and workers who use it. Most mining engineers work for firms in the coal and metal industries. Some specialize in just one of these industries. Engineers can work…
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$88,660 per year Employment Outlook: Good Natural science managers oversee the work of life and physical scientists, such as chemists, biologists, agricultural scientists, and medical scientists. They also plan, coordinate, and direct research, design, and production activities to improve manufacturing and industrial processes; develop new prod…
Education and Training: College Salary: Varies—see profile Employment Outlook: Good Oceanographers are scientists who study the sea. Oceanography incorporates features of many sciences, including biology, chemistry, geology, and meteorology. For this reason, oceanographers have varied backgrounds and do many kinds of work. Oceanographers may work on ships or in laboratories on land. Some wo…
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$43,118 per year Employment Outlook: Poor Park naturalists plan, develop, and conduct programs to teach park visitors about national, state, or local parks. Highlighting historical, natural, and scientific features of natural areas, they take visitors on nature walks, plan camping trips, teach classes on crafts or outdoor skills, and visit loca…
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$88,500 per year Employment Outlook: Varies—see profile Petroleum engineers design and supervise the process of getting oil and natural gas out of the ground and into storage tanks. Most of these engineers work for oil companies, but some work for firms that sell equipment and tools to oil companies. Others teach in colleges and universi…
Education and Training: College Salary: Median—$51,200 per year Employment Outlook: Fair Soil scientists gather information about and give advice on the management and conservation of soil. Many soil scientists work for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. These scientists are sometimes called soil conservationists. Some work for other federal, state, or local government agencies as cooperat…
Education and Training: Advanced degree Salary: Median—$66,590 per year Employment Outlook: Very good Veterinarians, also called doctors of veterinary medicine, study, treat, and control animal injuries and diseases. They immunize healthy animals against disease and inspect animals and meat products to be used as food. Veterinarians also perform surgery, set broken bones, establish diet and…
