Outdoor Careers: Explore Jobs That Work Outside (+ 9 Examples)
7 min read
Breathe in the fresh air, and enter the world of jobs that work outside
Often feel pinned in by the four walls of an office? Restricted by all that stale air and people around you invading your space? If you have a fear of being stuck in an office all day, in a career that drags, maybe it’s time to consider seeking out a job that works outside.
From being a casual dog walker, which requires little or no experience, to the intricacies and skill of a marine biologist, the range of jobs that work outside is vast. Just like the open sky.
Is it good to work outside?
Check this out. The new word of the day is biophilia, which is, “a hypothetical human tendency to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature,” as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. This could be the very reason why just being outside, let alone working among nature, makes us feel so much better.
Being in the open air can offer all sorts of benefits – from increased exercise and improved mental health, to just generally feeling in a better mood, which can reduce stress and anxiety. A recent survey from the National Library of Medicine found that spending between just 20 and 90 minutes a day in nature is hugely beneficial.
So imagine what securing a job that works outside could do for you!
Outdoor jobs examples
There are an array of roles that are based outside. Below are some of the outdoor jobs examples to consider, with a simple explanation and what qualifications you need for each, plus a bonus section on some of the skills you can add to your resume.
Construction laborer
A brilliant job if you’re a jack of all trades, as laborers get down and dirty performing all sorts of duties, from digging holes and pouring concrete to operating heavy machinery and building structures. It’s certainly an all-weather job as you’ll be outside constantly in order to complete a project within the deadline.
Key skills for resume: health and safety, site assistance, and teamwork
Qualifications needed: no formal education is required, but on-the-job training
Zookeeper
If you love animals and being outside, this is the perfect role for you. Tasks include attending to the animals by making sure they’re fed and cared for, educating visitors on animal habitats, and cleaning out enclosures.
Key skills for resume: resource management, time management, and animal handling
Qualifications needed: at least a high school diploma, and preferably an associate or bachelor degree in a related field like animal behavior or wildlife management
Rancher
If you’re looking for a job closely related to nature, then look no further. As a rancher, you’ll be out and about on a ranch, performing tasks such as mending fencing, planting crops, and managing cattle. Basically anything and everything that needs doing to keep the ranch operating at top capacity.
Key skills for resume: livestock management, animal care, and initiative
Qualifications needed: on-the-job training
Park ranger
The main role of a park ranger is to protect state and national parks across the US by enforcing the laws to the public. Usually employed by the National Park Service, they patrol designated areas and might also educate and give presentations on the parks.
Key skills for resume: team management, conservation management, and strategic thinking
Qualifications needed: preferably a bachelor’s degree in natural sciences, then the completion of park ranger recruit training
Expert Tip
To pursue this path, you have to be a US citizen, over 21, and possess a US driver’s license.
Marine biologist
Marine biologists specialize in studying marine organisms, ecosystems, and environments. They carry out in-depth research in order to understand the behavior, biology, ecology, and interactions of life under the sea, ranging from organisms so tiny they aren’t visible to the naked eye, to huge marine mammals, often featured on wildlife programs. It’s also part of the job to address environmental issues that face marine ecosystems, including climate change and over fishing.
Key skills for resume: strategic planning, data analysis, and research
Qualifications needed: a bachelor’s degree at the very least
Gardener / Landscaper
This is truly one of the jobs related to nature, as you’ll be surrounded by trees, plants, flowers, and everything in between all day as a gardener or landscaper. The role here is to nurture everything that grows in a garden, park, or any other outdoor space, while keeping on top of groundskeeping duties, such as mowing lawns, planting, and laying walkways. A landscaper is an artist of the natural world, so they look to improve open spaces to create aesthetically pleasing areas for clients to enjoy.
Key skills for resume: groundwork management, client engagement, and landscape design
Qualifications needed: no formal training to be a gardener, though a degree is preferred for landscaping work, as well as an internship or some sort of experience beforehand
Expert Tip
Really showing your enthusiasm for this type of work will help you land a role more easily, and having green fingers is certainly a bonus!
Wind turbine technician
Fancy the wind blowing through your hair while applying specific technical expertise to tasks on a daily basis? Then a wind turbine technician could be the job for you! Sustainable technology has really taken off in the last few years, so this is a career that could have loads of scope for the future. The main role of a wind turbine technician is installing and operating wind turbines, performing routine inspections, and carrying out repairs. They may also advise on the locations of new wind farms to be installed.
Key skills for resume: technical management, problem resolution, and system improvement
Qualifications needed: a high school diploma or GED certificate plus an associate degree program in wind energy technology
Expert Tip
On-the-job training for this type of role can last at least 12 months, so be prepared to keep learning once you land a job.
Firefighter
There’s no doubt about it; this can be a dangerous job and is not for the faint-hearted. It involves a plethora of skills, from rescuing people from life-threatening situations, to providing medical care, and working to combat and prevent future fires. An added addition to being a firefighter is completing documentation and summarizing incidents.
Key skills for resume: risk management, risk assessment, and safety management
Qualifications needed: it helps if you’ve got experience as a volunteer firefighter under your belt, a degree in a fire science subject, or an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) certificate
Camp counselor
If you love teaching and working with children, being a camp counselor could be right up your street. The primary duties of a camp counselor are making sure the children attending the camps are safe and having a great time. You would be organizing and supervising educational and recreational activities for school age children, while collaborating with other camp staff to plan for rainy days and unexpected eventualities.
Key skills for resume: issue resolution, conflict management, and organization
Qualifications needed: a high school diploma, camp experience, and any first aid or CPR training
Expert Tip
This is a great role if you’re looking for part-time or temporary work, as most camps are seasonal, running throughout the summer.
What is the highest paying outdoor job?
Clearly, that will depend on where you are in the country. As a guideline, outdoor jobs that require higher education qualifications are likely to earn you more bucks in the long run.
One of the highest paying outdoor jobs is that of a petroleum engineer, with an average salary topping $130,830, as of Mar 2024. All engineering roles are highly skilled, and a petroleum engineer is no exception. Their main task is extracting oil and gas, as well as researching ways in which to develop innovative processes that do this in the safest and most profitable way.
Expert Tip
If money is your driver, check out ZipJob’s blog on the highest paid jobs in the US here.
Take a deep breath…
Now that you have an idea of the type of jobs that work outside, you can concentrate on nabbing one of them for yourself. Pinpoint the direction you want to take, and then go for it!
To ensure your best chance of securing your dream job that works outside, you need to get your resume in top condition. ZipJob’s free resume review tool can help with that, so check it out today!
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Written by
Elizabeth Openshaw, Editor & Content Writer, Elizabeth Openshaw, Editor & Content Writer
Elizabeth Openshaw is an Elite CV Consultant with over 12 years of experience based in Brighton, UK, with an English degree and an addiction to Wordle! She is a former Journalist of 17 years with the claim to fame that she interviewed three times Grand Slam winner and former World No.1 tennis player, Andy Murray, when he was just 14 years old. You can connect with her at Elizabeth Openshaw | LinkedIn.
