<p>The decision of choosing a major for me has been this struggle between choosing a low income passionate career and a high paying not so passionate career. I want to go into the environmental field, but I don't want to be an engineer because I'd like to spend my time mostly outside researching the animals and plants and also protecting them. I was thinking about something like environmental science but I know that they don't get paid too much. What should I do?</p>
<p>Environmental science is not a horrible major for employment. If that is your passion, go for it.</p>
<p>I think money is absolutely something people should consider. However, the money won’t matter if you don’t have at least some enjoyment doing what you do. If I had to choose between following what I’m passionate about and taking a job simply for the pay, I would follow my passion every time. I would still consider salary though, and I would not sell myself short. </p>
<p>If you love environmental science, then you have identified your passion. Now, I would look at some of the opportunities that are out there for environmental scientists and tailor a degree plan with courses that will lead you towards a career that will be satisfying. There isn’t a reason that you can’t have both passion and money.</p>
<p>Also, when looking at salaries, take into account that not all jobs are going to give as high of a start as engineering. Engineering provides an initial edge, but many people with other majors do catch up eventually. </p>
<p>You may also want to consider environmental engineering–though, of course, this probably wouldn’t put you outdoors studying plants and animals.</p>
<p>Minimize your debt and you will find few reasons to compromise your goals.</p>
<p>Passion doesn’t put food on the table. If you want to have food, clothing, shelter, and have a family pick a career you can stand doing and that provides that. Ask yourself how long your passion will last serving coffee at Starbucks or collecting carts at Walmart or working god awful science temp jobs for $12 an hour.</p>
<p>Making money in the environmental sector is directly related to your major of choice. You would be better served obtaining a degree in environmental engineering or geology than a straight environmental science degree. Companies like to see that you have the passion and right skill set to handle a specific workload. Having a more quantitative background is crucial to landing a job and sustaining a position through rough patches in the industry.</p>
<p>Environmental companies are paying skilled geologists much more than they were 5 years ago due to the boom in oil and gas taking much of the skilled geologists (I am speaking from what friends that work as geologist in the environmental industry have told me. I’m a dirty petroleum geologist.) </p>
<p>What percent of geology majors do NOT work in the petroleum industry? I find it a fascinating field but I feel I would not like the moral burden of playing with oil, if you know what I mean (not demeaning what you by the way)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/geoscientists.htm#tab-3”>http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/geoscientists.htm#tab-3</a></p>
<p>This appears to be the best chart I could find. Obviously, it doesn’t add up to 100%, but you get the gist. I’m sure that Mining makes up a considerable percentage as well. </p>
<p>If you really got into geology, the mining industry is probably the best bet to doing actual field work. They will drop off their exploration team in the middle of nowhere for set time periods, and they will essentially make maps for future development and further exploration.</p>
<p>Not really interested in geology, but thanks for the suggestions. My brother is majoring in that though. What a coincidence.</p>
<p>@sschoe2 Passion can put money on the table… If someone’s passion is to be an actress, I’d say that’s a one in a million shot, but if someone’s passion is to study computer software or something that is high in demand and pays a lot, then yes, passion can feed your family.</p>
<p>You should do what you love</p>
<p>@Muzikgirl that is true, but it isn’t the passion that is directly translated into money. It is the passion that can be translated into a career, and that career may be what translates into money. If the passion does not translate to a career, then you have no money. A career is the middle man, and passion =/= money. </p>
<p>You are lucky if your passion is in engineering or CS or something because those are lucrative majors.</p>
<p>@Ctesiphon Yeah. I just don’t like how when people think of passion, they think immediately of art or music or dance, but passion can be directed towards whatever someone feels drawn to. </p>
<p>Well, would you rather be happy but have a lower income, or miserable at work all the time with a higher income? Personally, I’d go for whatever makes me happy. </p>
<p>@hrs2015:</p>
<p>Why can’t somebody find middle ground? Making a comparison between being happy and miserable is pretty drastic. I would much rather have a career that fits between these extremes and has decent salary opportunities. These careers do in fact exist.</p>
<p>@aGGieENGiNeeR I agree. That’s what I’m looking for and hopefully I can still go for something like environmental science and find a job after I graduate. Environmental scientists don’t make tons of money, but the average seems to make enough. </p>