Protection technician

What they do: Monitor the level of pollutants in the air, water, and land, and help clean up contaminated sites.

Salary range: $25,090 to $63,670

Education/experience: Associate's degree or certificate in environmental science or a science-related technology (minimum) in addition to hands-on training.

Growth forecast: The increased emphasis on environmental compliance may lead to employment growth for protection technicians of about 28 percent, according to the BLS.