The U.S. environmental sector is highly diverse, employing people with all kinds of academic training. It includes private sector firms, non profit organizations, and government agencies. Check out the following statistics. The Environmental Business Journal and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimate that over 110,000 revenue generating organizations provide the backbone of the environmental industry. Many companies,whose primary business is solely the environment often employ environmental profesionals.
Many companies require professionals to help with regulatory compliance and emissions control.
In the United States federal agencies offer a tremendous number of employment opportunities for the environmentally inclinced and those just looking for a good job. These include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service, Agency for International Development, Peace Corps, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and many other agencies within the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justic, Housing and Urban Development, Defense, and Transportation. State agencies also offer opportunities in environmental protection, natural resource management, education, and oversight. At the local level, municipal and county authorities operate waste management systems, drinking water and water treatment programs, and recreation services. In the U.S. alone, there are thousands, by some estimates close to seven thousand groups that work for the environment.