Natural Resource Management Career Map

Natural resource management careers include:

  • Arborists
  • Hydrologists
  • Environmental Restoration Manager
  • Waterwise Landscape Contractor
  • Water Quality Technician.

Work can be both in office and outdoors.

  • Industry growing by 20%
  • Median salary: $75,000
  • In demand job titles:
    • Parks & Recreation Specialists
    • Utility Foresters
    • Urban Forestry Inspector

Water Quality

Entry-Level Water Quality Job

Projected Job Growth over next 5 years:
  • 11%
Potential Job Titles:
  • Water Quality Technician
  • Water Mitigation Technician
  • Utility Tech
Median Annual Salary:
  • $33,904-$45,000
Top Desired Skills or Credentials
  • Little to no professional experience required
  • Highschool Diploma or GED
  • Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
Where can you tap into training?
  • Groundwork Denver - Blue Team
    • Paid employment and job training in water quality testing for youth

Learn more about Blue Team

  • CSU Spur Campus: Hydro Water Quality Lab & educational programs
    • Specifically for teachers
    • PreK-12 educational programs and exhibits
    • Program duration varies

Learn more about Hydro Water Quality Lab & educational programs

Mid-Level Water Quality Job

Projected Job Growth over next 5 years:
  • 9%
Potential Job Titles:
  • Water Quality Analyst
  • Water Treatment Asset Management Tech
Median Annual Salary:
  • $52,000-$74,500
Top Desired Skills or Credentials
  • 1-5 years professional experience
  • High School Diploma or GED
  • Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
  • Other skills or credentials may be required, for example:
    • Colorado Water Operator certification
    • 40 Hour HAZWOPER certification
    • Technical training on Water QA/QC
Where can you tap into training?
  • Emily Griffith Technical College: Water Quality Mgmt. Program
    • 10 months
    • Part-time program
    • Cost: $5,599

Learn more about Water Quality Mgmt. Program

  • American Institute of Hydrology: Hydrologic Technician Certification
    • Cost:
      • $90/annual fee plus $50 application fee
      • $200 exam fee
      • $25 initial certificate fee
    • Certification eligible depending upon professional experience, must pass exam

Learn more about Hydrologic Technician Certification

Advanced Water Quality Job

Projected Job Growth over next 5 years:
  • 6%
Potential Job Titles:
  • Water Quality Scientist or Manager
  • Hydro Supervisor
  • Water Treatment Plant Supervisor
  • Hydrologist
Median Annual Salary:
  • $83,000-$112,000
Top Desired Skills or Credentials
  • 5-10 years of professional experience
  • High School Diploma or GED
  • Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
  • Project Management experience
  • Other skills or credentials may be required, for example:
    • Aquatic Nuisance Species training
    • Hydro Electric Power Plant Operator training
    • Colorado Water Distribution Operator Certifications
Where can you tap into training?
  • Colorado Stormwater Center: Stormwater system design/install/inspection/maintenance Training

Learn more about Stormwater System Training

  • Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment: Colorado Certified Water Professionals
    • Free online water and wastewater and Mandatory Regulatory Training courses

Learn more about Colorado Certified Water Professionals

  • American Institute of Hydrology: Professional Hydrologist Certification
    • $150/annual fee plus $100 application fee, $200 exam fee, $35 initial certificate fee
    • Certification eligible depending upon professional experience, must pass exam

Learn more about Professional Hydrologist Certification

Tree Care

Entry-Level Tree Care Job

Projected Job Growth over next 5 years: 
  • 11%
Potential Job Titles:
  •  Tree Trimmer
Median Annual Salary:
  •  $39,991
Top Desired Skills or Credentials
  • Two years’ experience trimming, tree removal or grounds work
  • Valid driver's license
Where can you tap into training?
  • Mile High Youth Corps: Land Conservation Corps:
    • 3 months to 2 years
    • Paid bi-weekly stipend
    • Resulting credentials:
      • AmeriCorps education award
      • First-Aid/CPR
      • S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws certifications

Learn more about Land Conservation Corps

Mid-Level Tree Care Job

Projected Job Growth over next 5 years:
  •  7%
Potential Job Titles: 
  • Climbing Arborist
Median Annual Salary: 
  • $60,000
Top Desired Skills or Credentials
  • Minimum 1 year tree trimming experience
  • Valid driver's license
Where can you tap into training?
  • Treeforce Tree Care Pre-Apprenticeship:
    • 8-week paid career exploration program
    • Currently second chance model

Learn more about Treeforce Tree Care Pre-Apprenticeship

Advanced Tree Care Job

Projected Job Growth over next 5 years:
  • 20%
Potential Job Titles:
  • Urban Forester
  • Master Arborist
  • Sales Arborist
Median Annual Salary:
  •  $75,000
Top Desired Skills or Credentials
  • 2-5 years of professional experience
  • Valid driver's license
  • International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist
  • Communication and writing skills
Where can you tap into training?
  • Colorado Tree Care Registered Apprenticeship:
    • 3-year program or 6,000 hours of paid training
    • 440 hours of classroom style learning
    • Cost depends on employer partner
    • Certification verifying apprenticeship

Learn more about Colorado Tree Care Registered Apprenticeship

  • International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist (ISA) Certification:
    • Various specialized certifications available:
      • Utility specialist
      • Municipal specialist
      • Climber specialist
      • Aerial lift specialist
      • Master arborist
    • $170 member or $280 non-members
    • Take exam to receive certification
    • No program duration

Learn more about Certified Arborist (ISA) Certification

Landscaping

Entry-Level Landscaping Job

Projected Job Growth over next 5 years:
  •  7%
Potential Job Titles:
  •  Landscaper
  • Groundskeeper
Median Annual Salary:
  •  $39,190
Top Desired Skills or Credentials
  • Little to no professional experience required
  • Experience in groundskeeping, irrigation, or mowing
Where can you tap into training?
  • Denver Urban Gardens: DUG Corps
    • Seasonal Job
    • 30 hours/wk, 25-week duration
    • $15.87/hour
    • Training in sustainable urban farming, advocacy, and light construction skills

Learn more about DUG Corps

Mid-Level Landscaping Job

Projected Job Growth over next 5 years:
  •  4%
Potential Job Titles:
  •  Waterwise Landscape Contractor
  • Mid-Level Landscape Architect
Median Annual Salary:
  •  $51,080
Top Desired Skills or Credentials
  • 2-5 years of professional experience
  • Experience preparing concept plans using computer design software
  • Project Management and Business Development
  • Other skills or credentials may be required, for example:
    • Water Wise Landscape Design
Where can you tap into training?
  • Colorado State University: CSU AGBB 2070 Water Wise Landscape Design (online course)
    • Online, asynchronous, noncredit
    • $60
    • Self-pace

Learn more about CSU Online Course

  • Hispanic Contractors of Colorado: Contractor Academy
    • Duration varies, typically 4 hours in length
    • Price varies, ranging between $100-$200
    • Topics covered:
      • Project management
      • HR and legal guidance
      • Cybersecurity
      • Scaling for growth

Learn more about Contractor Academy

  • Denver Permaculture Design Course:
    • 112 leadership training
    • Culminates in Permaculture Design Consultant’s Certificate
    • $1,600 program cost, subsidies available

Learn more about Denver Permaculture Design Course

Advanced Landscaping Job

Projected Job Growth over next 5 years:
  •  6%
Potential Job Titles:
  •  Landscape Architect
  • Landscape Operations Manager
Median Annual Salary:
  •  $75,000 - $133,285
Top Desired Skills or Credentials
  • 5-10 years of experience
  • Professional Landscape Architect license
  • Experience preparing concept plans using computer design software
  • Project Management and Business Development
Where can you tap into training?
  • American Society of Landscape Architects: Resource Hub
    • Information on becoming a Licensed Landscape Architect

Learn more about American Society of Landscape Architects

  • Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado:
    • Sustainable Landscape Management Certification (SLM)
    • 4-hour training class followed by an exam
    • $125 (note: Must also be an ALCC member)

Learn more about Sustainable Landscape Management Certification

  • National Association of Landscape Professionals: 
    • Landscape Industry Certified Technician Certification
    • Self-paced study and exam
    • $445 for members, $645 for non-members

Learn more about Landscape Industry Certified Technician Certification

Ecological Restoration

Entry-Level Ecological Restoration Job

Projected Job Growth over next 5 years:
  •  7%
Potential Job Titles:
  •  Field Crew Member
  • Trail Crew Member
  • Restoration Crew Member
Median Annual Salary:
  •  $42,000
Top Desired Skills or Credentials
  • Little to no professional experience required
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Other skills or credentials may be required, for example:
    • Plant Identification Skills
    • Teamwork
Where can you tap into training?
  • Green Teams - Groundwork Denver:
    • Training in natural resource management for youth.
    • Advocacy – paid

Learn more about Green Teams

  • Mile High Youth Corps: Land Conservation Corps
    • 3 months to 2 years
    • Paid bi-weekly stipend
    • Resulting credentials:
      • AmeriCorps education award
      • First-Aid/CPR
      • S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws certifications

Learn more about Land Conservation Corps

Mid-Level Ecological Restoration Job

Projected Job Growth over next 5 years:
  •  7%
Potential Job Titles:
  •  Ecological Conservation Technician
  • Forestry Technician
Median Annual Salary:
  •  $55,000
Top Desired Skills or Credentials
  • 1-3 years of professional experience
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Paid or unpaid experience in farm/ranch labor, groundskeeping or landscaping, forestry, soil science, and/or watershed management
  • Other skills or credentials may be required, for example:
    • GPS Surveying Experience
    • Ability to bend, stoop, or crouch
    • Ability to lift and /or move 50lbs
Where can you tap into training?
  • Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK): Urban Rangers Program
    • Paid job, in park/trail maintenance
    • 30-39 hours/week
    • Tuesday-Saturday work week
    • June 1st through mid-August

Learn more about Urban Rangers Program

Advanced Ecological Restoration Job

Projected Job Growth over next 5 years: 
  • 11%
Potential Job Titles:
  • Environmental Restoration Project Manager
  • Remediation Project Manager
  • Conservation Scientist
  • Environmental Engineer
Median Annual Salary: 
  • $80,000 - $100,000
Top Desired Skills or Credentials
  • 8+ years of experience
  • Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Engineering, Master’s a plus
  • Project Management
  • Other skills or credentials may be required, for example:
    • OSHA 40-Hr HAZWOPER Cert.
Where can you tap into training?

Training is coming soon. Please check again later.

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Shannon Jahn

Green Workforce Lead 

Jessmine Anderson

Green Workforce Program Manager

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