Key Takeaways

• Key Takeaways:
• Outdoor tech jobs offer opportunities for active movement and can pay even more than indoor tech jobs. Consider becoming a tech gadget reviewer or an agricultural engineer for outdoor career options.
• Remote sensing specialists use sensors to interpret data and contribute to environmental monitoring. Environmental data analysts collect and analyze data to understand climate change and pollution dynamics. These are fulfilling tech jobs that make a difference.
• Field service technicians work on the installation, repair, and maintenance of tech systems. Drone operators handle UAVs and capture data. Marine data analysts specialize in collecting and analyzing data from marine environments. These outdoor tech jobs provide exciting and rewarding career paths.

While tech jobs mostly require an office setting or remote working environment, there are outdoor tech jobs that require field operation and active movement. Some of these outdoor jobs pay even more than indoor ones.

If you enjoy moving around while working, consider taking up an outdoor tech job. From jobs that you can do alone to jobs that require a team, here are outdoor tech jobs that can pay well for you.

1. Tech Gadgets Reviewer

Average Annual Salary (US): $55,093

Tech gadget reviewers put new tech gadgets to the test and record their reviews about them so people can make better choices when buying gadgets. If you desire to become a tech gadgets reviewer, your tasks will involve evaluating and commenting on various tech products ranging from smartphones to laptops and other tech hardware.

In your reviews, you will offer insights, viewpoints, and suggestions that help consumers make well-informed choices about their gadget purchases. To make your review worthwhile, you must evaluate the performance, design, features, user-friendliness, and value for money of the gadgets.

Unlike many tech-related roles, you can start working as a tech gadget reviewer with a video recording setup and gadgets you are familiar with. If any of your videos go viral, it will surely increase your earnings, and finding the latest tech gadgets and reviewing them is one way to go viral.

2. Agricultural Engineer

Average Annual Salary (US): $79,602

As an agricultural engineer, your core responsibilities revolve around researching, developing, and testing various agricultural products to develop tech that will enhance agricultural practices. If you appreciate a perfect combination of tradition and innovation, agricultural engineering will immensely appeal to you.

Most of your duties as an agricultural engineer will be outdoors, where you will set up essential equipment and conduct experiments to elevate the quality of crops and livestock.

Consequently, your role is a blend of scientific inquiries and hands-on implementation, contributing directly to advancing agricultural practices. To qualify for this role, you need to hold an associate degree or diploma in agricultural technology, agricultural science, or a related field.

3. Remote Sensing Specialist

Average Annual Salary (US): $77,000

A Remote Sensing Specialist uses sensors to interpret data and decipher problems in urban planning, natural resource management, and climate prediction. This outdoor job allows you to work with cutting-edge technology, contribute to environmental monitoring, and provide valuable insights for decision-making.

But that's not all. As a remote sensing specialist, you're also equipped to:

• Acquire satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and LiDAR data.
• Process and interpret remote sensing data to extract meaningful information.
• Utilize software tools to improve, manipulate, and analyze imagery.
• Create 3D visualization to depict spatial information accurately.
• Foresee and model future environmental trends.

AI also makes the job of remote sensing specialists easier by providing new ways to fight climate change. If this career interests you, you can start your journey by familiarizing yourself with Geospatial Sciences.

4. Environmental Data Analyst

Average Annual Salary (US): $58,464

As an environmental data analyst (EDA), your primary role involves collecting data from the environment and analyzing it for a comprehensive understanding of climate change and pollution dynamics, among other things. Working as an environmental data analyst is one of the ways a tech job can make a difference in the world.

While EDAs can work alone, they can work with companies to grasp the intricacies of the natural environment, comprehend the implications of their interactions with it, and figure out how to mitigate the adverse effects of human interaction with the environment.

Alongside technical experience, you need an environmental science or Ecology-related discipline to qualify for this role.

5. Field Service Technician

Average Annual Salary (US): $56,683

If you love handling the installation, inspection, repair, and maintenance of tech systems across multiple industries, this is a perfect fit for you. A field service technician is a skilled professional who works on outdoor equipment and machines.

The types of equipment you can work on depend on your expertise; you can work on medical equipment, farm maintenance systems, and telecommunication systems.

To become a field service technician in any given industry, all you have to do is undergo the technical training that is required for the role. It's one of the tech jobs you can get without a degree.

6. Drone Operator

Average Annual Salary (US): $57,910

Do you desire a career with a growing demand, a life outdoors, and a constantly changing environment? If so, working as a drone pilot is an excellent fit for you.

As the drone industry becomes mainstream, many firms have found ways to utilize the data from drones, and consequently, there is an increase in the demand for drone operators. So, if you are familiar with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), becoming a drone operator is worth considering.

Aside from remote-piloting an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), drone operators also:

• Conduct pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight UAV safety checks
• Capture and assess data and footage from UAVs
• Make sure flight routes and operations check out with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations

You may think piloting a UAV requires always working remotely, but this is not the case. Some UAVs require proximity with the operator, and this will require you to move with your drone occasionally.

Additionally, operating a UAV is one job that offers a lot of security in comparison to other outdoor tech jobs. While there are other requirements to become a drone operator, a remote pilot certificate from the FAA is most important for US citizens.

7. Marine Data Analyst

Average Annual Salary (US): $85,040

A career in marine data would be the perfect fit if you are passionate about your environment and enjoy immersing yourself in deep waters for research. As a marine data analyst, you’ll specialize in collecting, interpreting, and analyzing data related to marine environments, including seas and oceans.

Similarly, you will break down complex data collected from buoys, satellites, research vessels, and underwater sensors. To start as a marine data analyst, you need a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Science or any of its related fields.

Plenty of Outdoor Tech Jobs Are Available

If you love moving around while working, these field tech jobs are worth trying. Some offer as much job security and personal safety as indoor tech jobs, so you don’t have to worry.

Impressively, some of them even pay more than indoor tech jobs and require no coding or programming. You can always contribute more to the world with outdoor tech jobs.

Remember that salaries will vary depending on whether you work for yourself or someone else, along with other factors—such as your experience and the city you're based in. Nonetheless, you should now have a better blueprint for something you can work toward.

FAQ

Q: Which Tech Career Should I Choose?

Deciding the right tech career for you comes down to three things at large: your passion and interests, your career goals, and how future-proof the career path is. For instance, if you're not a fan of coding, you can consider becoming a product designer, business analyst, technical writer, or quality assurance specialist instead. Similarly, if you want a safer yet lucrative career path, you can check out the best tech jobs for the future.