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About Environmental
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Average Salaries
Environmental workers may earn between $37,000 and $71,000 per year
Build practical skills for an exciting career helping to conserve our natural world by studying an environment course.
You care about conserving our precious natural resources and want an exciting, hands-on career where you can really make a difference. Studying an environment course is your next career step.
A broad and exciting field, the study of environment includes elements of conservation, food security, climate change adaptation, sustainable land use planning, and garden and natural resource management. In an increasingly volatile and disaster-prone world, skilled professionals who can effective protect and conserve our vital natural resources are in urgent demand.
By studying an environment course, you’ll build the essential practical skills and foundational knowledge required to play a leading role in protecting the environment and shaping our future.
You may study an environment course at a range of different levels, including as a certificate or diploma course, as a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or as a post-graduate certificate or diploma course. You may choose to seek employment in a range of different roles after completing an environment course, including working as an environmental scientist or engineer, in sustainable land management, as a horticulturalist or gardener, or in seed or food science.
In an environment course, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself completely in the study of our natural world and learn critical skills for its protection and conservation. Bu studying an environment course, you’ll build the critical knowledge and skills needed to make a real difference in the protection of our most vital natural resources.
If you’re passionate about the natural world and committed to using your skills to protect it, studying an environmental course is your next career step.
What do environmental graduates do?
After completing an environment course, you may seek employment in a range of roles in the conservation, agriculture, food science and sustainability sectors.
You may choose to work as a horticulturalist or garden manager, performing tasks such as:
- Preparing and maintaining garden beds and growing sites;
- Propagating and planting trees, bushes, lawn, hedges, flowers and bulbs;
- Maintaining planted and grassed areas by weeding, trimming, fertilising, watering and mowing;
- Producing and distributing compost and fertiliser;
- Planning, drawing, preparing and constructing landscape areas;
- Organising and conducting food production operations, such as collecting, storing, grading and packaging produce, and organising its sale and dispatch;
- Directing and managing general horticulture operations, including managing staff and business requirements, including production and resource preparation; and
- Contributing to horticulture discussion and policy, including writing reports and submissions and attending panels, workshops and discussions.
You may also choose to work as an environmental scientist or manager, contributing to environmental planning and policy. In a role like this, you can expect to perform tasks like:
- Evaluating and investigating environmental, wildlife and fisheries needs, and developing strategies and goals;
- Understanding and enforcing laws and regulations relating to the conservation of the environment;
- Carrying out environmental impact assessments;
- Studying and understanding environmental problems, including analysing pollution, soil quality, environmental ecology, water quality and demographic information;
- Developing and implementing complex environmental management policies;
- Planning and organising activities in designated areas to protect and conserve native environments; and
- Participating in environmental management planning.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
After completing an environment course, you’ll likely work in a role addressing issues of environmental damage, protection and regulation, and may choose to work for a government department, non-government conservation organisation, or in private environmental consulting and garden management.
You may choose to seek employment as a:
Is environmental right for you?
You’ll enjoy studying an environment course if you:
- Enjoy nature and conservation
- Are passionate about the environment
- Are curious
- Are patient
- Can think critically
- Enjoy problem-solving
- Are organised and efficient
- Are resilient
- Work well with details
- Enjoy planning
- Enjoy repetitive work
- Have a scientific mind
- Want a meaningful and rewarding career
- Want to make a difference
Job opportunities
The Australian Government’s Job Outlook identifies the environmental management profession as a small but growing sector in Australia.
Currently employing approximately 18,700 environmental scientists and approximately 13,600 garden and environmental management professionals, the sector has been growing steadily over the past decade, and is likely to grow slightly to employ approximately 33,600 people by 2020. The size of the profession indicates that roles are available in most areas of Australia.
Average Salaries
According to PayScale, a horticulturalist can expect to earn on average between $37,000 per year and $71,000 per year, with an average annual salary of approximately $49,000. PayScale observes that earning capacity remains reasonably steady throughout a horticulturalist’s career, with entry-level practitioners earning comparative wages to more experienced horticulturalists.
According to PayScale, an environmental manager can expect to earn on average between $78,000 per year and $172,000 per year, with an average annual salary of approximately $129,000.