Environmental managers have some contact with animals. Their major concern is care of the environment. They monitor the delicate balance between nature and humans. Hundreds of new jobs have been created in the field of environmental sciences specifically because of catastrophes involving toxic waste, air and water pollution, and natural disasters. They work in government and private agencies, and many are employed by the Environmental Protection Agency or state departments of environmental protection. They work preparing environmental impact studies, and ensure that laws keeping the earth, water, and air clean are upheld.

Under the umbrella title of environmental studies are forestry technicians and park rangers. Preparation for all of these fields involves studies in biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, geology, hazard perception, emergency and disaster planning, and waste management.

People in these professions earn anywhere between $25,000 and $40,000 depending on where in the country they live. Managers with several years of experience can earn upward of $60,000 on average.

Forestry technicians work for government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service. They are responsible for the care and maintenance of federally owned forest land. Large paper and lumber corporations also employ forestry technicians to conserve and maintain the thousands of acres of forests. It is a good idea to have a background in biology and geography to get a job as a forest technician. Attending a four-year college with a forestry program is a wise choice.

The National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and state parks hire park rangers. Depending on the park, there is some interaction with animals, but the main responsibility of a park ranger is to enforce environmental laws to protect our parks. A park ranger must have a good understanding of wildlife conservation.

Most rangers have a four-year college degree majoring in geography, biology, zoology, wildlife management, and forestry. Rangers are civil servants, so they must take state exams to become a licensed park ranger.