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Water Resource Jobs

Water is life. Whether sanitizing it for human consumption or eliminating wasteful agricultural practices, using this resource effectively is predicted to become increasingly important in the coming years. For those who want to build a career in the service of water management, a number of exciting and rewarding opportunities exist in the field. 

All career information is obtained from PayScale. 

Jobs in Water Resource Management

The following are just a few of the many options available to you in the water resource management field. 

City Manager

City managers oversee a variety of departments within a city’s municipal government. These might include budgeting, purchasing, accounting and related tasks. A meaningful understanding of infrastructure systems, including water, is required. Their duties might include:

  • Researching finance allocation and potential budget cuts
  • Bookkeeping
  • Determining solutions to income and investment issues within the city
  • Preparing and managing city budgets 
  • Coordinating day-to-day operations of municipal departments and services

While city managers most often work in an office setting, they are required to travel to various areas of their municipality for their work. They earn an average annual salary of $88,351.

Environmental Consultant

Environmental consultants work in the private, corporate and government sectors. In general, these professionals are responsible for understanding, explaining, and mitigating an organization’s ecological impact. Duties of an environmental consultant might include:

  • Assessing raw materials for safety, such as lead-based paint and asbestos
  • Writing reports and preparing documents
  • Ensuring state and federal compliance
  • Analyzing data and creating data models and projections
  • Testing materials and spaces, collecting data and assessing risks

These professionals earn an average annual salary of $54,118.

Environmental Technician

Environmental technicians are responsible for helping a variety of organizations understand the environmental effects of existing or proposed man-made projects. These professionals often work with government agencies, public works administration agencies, as well as both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Their duties may include:

  • Studying environmental samples to understand environmental irregularities and changes
  • Create predictions based on data regarding future environmental effects and events
  • Analyzing data and building reports
  • Communicating hazards, quality issues and other dangers to their organizations
  • Performing fieldwork
  • Overseeing any manufacturing or construction operations to ensure work and environmental safety

In addition to having a background in a related field such as environmental studies or biology, these professionals must also possess strong skills in mathematics and statistics. Environmental technicians earn an average annual salary of $40,231.

Policy Analyst

Policy analysts are responsible for attempting to change or implement new public policies, regulations and laws. Although they often work directly in government or non-profits, they occasionally are hired by corporations who are directly impacted by the policies they are trying to influence. These professionals may be charged with:

  • Suggesting changes to existing laws
  • Reviewing and monitoring policies to determine their pros, cons and impacts
  • Working with stakeholders to understand their needs and concerns
  • Collecting, analyzing and reporting both quantitative and qualitative data
  • Creating policy reports that demonstrate information clearly and succinctly
  • Persuading politicians to follow through on certain policies based on evidence presented

Those who work as policy analysts need to have a solid understanding of how politics work and be comfortable within that system. They often work irregular hours. Policy analysts earn an average annual salary of $56,719.

Your Future in Water Management

Although water management seems like a specialized field, there are many career options to pursue. To do so requires the right degree. At East Central University Online, the Master of Science in Water Resource Policy and Management trains students to become leaders in the field, helping them gain the specialized training they need to professionally advance. Designed to complete in one year, the program is offered fully online for maximum flexibility.