When we recycle and bring our own water bottle we tend to feel pretty good about ourselves and that we might be making at least a small difference. But that’s pretty much all the results are – a nice warm feeling in your heart. But what if you could make a couple bucks and still have that nice feeling? These are the green jobs that are popping up all around the country. And yes they are decent paying jobs for recent graduates. Green collar jobs are well-paid careers with positions ranging from entry-level to professionals. The chart bellows highlights the main industries of green careers and how many new jobs were created in the short time span of one year in 2007.
The Renewable Energy Industry in the United States, 2007
First is the type of industry, second is the revenue/budget the industry had in billions, third is how many jobs were already in place and fourth is total jobs created in a year.
Wind: $3.30; 17,300; 39,600
Photovoltaics: 1.30; 8,700; 19,800
Solar Thermal: 0.14; 1,300; 3,100
Hydroelectric Power: 3.50; 7,500; 18,000
Geothermal: 2.10; 10,100; 23,200
Ethanol: 8.40; 83,800; 195,700
Biodiesel: 0.40; 3,200; 7,300
Biomass Power: 17.40; 67,100; 154,500
Fuel Cells: 1.10; 5,600; 12,800
Hydrogen: 0.81; 4,100; 9,400
Total Private Industry: 38.45; 208,700; 483,400
Federal Government: 0.65; 900*; 2,100
DOE Laboratories: 1.90; 3,800**; 8,700
State and Local Government: 0.95; 2,600; 5,800
Total Government: 3.50; 7,300; 16,600
Trade and Professional: 0.63; 1,600; 3,500
Associations and NGOs
TOTAL ALL SECTORS $42.58 217,600 503,500
*Includes Federal employees and direct support contractors.
**Includes federal employees, laboratory employees, and direct support contractors.
Source: Management Information Services, Inc. and American Solar Energy Society, 2008.
