Jun 04 2009

Going After the Green

Posted by: Jonathan Marshall

Even with unemployment rates at levels not seen since the Great Depression, most workers in "green" industries feel relatively secure and are making good salaries, according to the first-ever Carbon Salary Survey by Reuters.

According to the survey, 68 percent of "green" workers say that increased government and business attention to global warming has improved their job security.

The average green collar worker earns $76,000 a year worldwide--and $100,000 annually in the United States. The worst paid sector, at $58,000 a year, was green marketing, PR and media--a category that includes bloggers.

On at least one score, green companies are still politically incorrect: they pay women an average of 18 percent less than men.

So how do you land a desirable green job in these hard times? Check out a new online map launched by Environmental Defense Fund. It lets you search for a wide variety of green California companies--2,200 in all--by city, county or congressional district. Clicking on any of the stick-pin icons will give you the name, address, url and description of each company.

The EDF database doesn't encompass all green companies; it focuses on those in the energy generation, energy efficiency, transportation and green building sectors.

Job seekers should also check out EDF's "Green Jobs Guidebook," which profiles dozens of jobs, suggests opportunities for high school graduates and provides information on job training and placement programs.

© 2008 Pacific Gas and Electric Company. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms

"PG&E" refers to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation.