Environmental Sciences Career Guide: Roles, Salary 2025 & Future Scope

Updated on Dec 18, 2024 07:44 IST

Environmental Science career scope is vast in India as students can opt for employment opportunities in both government and private sectors. Students can find jobs in various fields such as Food processing industries, Mining companies, Urban planning commissions, Waste treatment industries, Textile mills, Oil refineries, etc.

Some popular Environmental Science employment opportunities are Microbiologist, Environmentalist, Natural Resource Specialist, Wildlife Biologist, Environment Journalist, Conservation Hydrologist, etc. The average starting salary for an Environmental Consultant is INR 7.6 LPA.

You look for career options in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Animal Welfare Board of India, Wildlife Institute of India, Zoological Survey of India, and more.

Continue reading the article to get more details.

Relevant Links for Environmental Science Career:

Job Opportunities & Salary Offered After Completing BSc Degree

Top Career Profiles in Environmental Science

India offers a lot of Environmental Science opportunities in the career field. Here are some top job profiles in India -

Job Profiles

Average Salary

Environmental Consultant 

INR 7.6 LPA

Environmental Scientist 

INR 3.3 LPA

Environmental Health Officer

INR 4.2 LPA

Environmental Engineer 

INR 4.5 LPA

Biologist

INR 5 LPA

Conservation Scientist 

INR 3.5 LPA

Research Biologist 

INR 4 LPA

Ecologist

9.6 LPA

Environmental Engineer

4.4 LPA

Geologist

6.5 LPA

Note - The salary data has been taken from Ambitionbox.com.

Link Relevant to Environmental Science Career:

MSc Environmental Sciences Course

Environmental Science Career Scope

Environmental Science Job Sectors in India

Environmental Science graduates in India have so many employment opportunities across various sectors. Here are some key employment areas for fresh graduates in the country:

Key Employment Areas

Government Agencies

NGOS

Wildlife Conservation and Research Organizations

Energy and Renewable Energy Companies

Waste and Water Management 

Environmental Compliance and Testing Labs

Environmental Science Top Recruiters in India

In India, there are various organizations and sectors that actively recruit professionals for a wide range of Environmental Science job roles. Candidates can check top Environmental Science recruiting companies under each industry in the table below.

Government Institutions

MOEFCC

State Pollution Control Boards

Forest Departments

Municipal Corporations

NGOs

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

World Wide Fund for Nature

Centre for Science and Environment

Environmental Defense Fund

Wildlife Conservation and Research Organizations

Wildlife Institute of India

Bombay Natural History Society

SACON

Botanical Survey of India

Energy and Renewable Energy Companies

Adani Green Energy Limited

Reliance Industries

GAIL Limited

ONGC

Waste and Water Management 

VA Tech Wabag

Thermax India

GE Water

Siemens India- Water Technologies

Environmental Compliance and Testing Labs

Mineslab Services Pvt. Ltd.

Terracon Ecotech Private Limited

Folk Products and Design

G.R.I.D.

Note - The info is taken from external sites and may vary.

Relevant Links for Environmental Science Career:

NIRF 2024 Rankings - Top 50 Research Institutions in India

Environmental Science Jobs in the Government and Private Sector

The Environmental Science jobs cover areas like environmental management, research, conservation, policy development and consulting. Here's an overview of popular jobs in both sectors for students' reference.

Environmental Science Jobs in the Government Sector

Government agencies at both the central and state levels are responsible for environmental protection, natural resource management and policy implementation. Students can find some Environmental Science government jobs in the table below -

Job Profiles

Average Salary

Environmental Officer

INR 4.1 LPA

Environmental Engineer

INR 7 LPA

Wildlife Biologist

INR 2.5 LPA

Forester

INR 3.5 LPA

Environmental Policy Analyst

INR 3 LPA

Note - The salary data has been taken from Ambitionbox.com.

Environmental Science Jobs in the Private Sector

The private sector offers diverse roles that focus on environmental management, sustainability, consulting, research and more. One can find some Environmental Science private jobs in the table below:

Job Profiles

Average Salary

Environmental Consultant

INR 6.9 LPA

Sustainability Manager

INR 13.2 LPA

GIS Specialist

INR 6.5 LPA

Environmental Scientist

INR 3.5 LPA

Water Resource Manager

INR 18 LPA

Note - The salary data has been taken from Ambitionbox.com.

Best Environmental Science Colleges for Placements in India

Several colleges in India that offer Environmental Science courses have a record of providing good placements. Here are some top college options known for their courses and placements.

Environmental Science Colleges

Average Package Offered

IISc Bangalore Placements INR 30 LPA
IISER Bhopal Placements INR 19 LPA
Mumbai University Placements INR 18 LPA
DU Placements INR 16 LPA
SK Somaiya College Placements INR 11.4 LPA
Kalyani University Placements INR 11 LPA
JSS Mysore Placements INR 9.75 - 10.76 LPA
Symbiosis International Pune Placements INR 10.3 LPA
JNU Placements INR 9.5 LPA

Note - The info is taken from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

Topics Related to Environmental Science Career:

What are the career options after completing the MSc?

Environmental Science Career FAQs

Q. What career options are available for Environmental Science students?

A. For Environmental Science students, there are so many career options. A few popular choices are Environmental Health and Safety Officer, Environmental Policy Analyst, Environmental Consultant, Environmental Engineer, Conservation Scientist, Environmental Educator, Environmental Lawyer and Environmental Consultant

Q. What are the roles and responsibilities of an Environmental Scientist?

A. Their responsibility is to provide fresh, creative solutions for pressing environmental problems. Other tasks may include field research, travelling, activity recording, making reports, etc.

Q. What can I do after my MSc in Environmental Science?

A. Here are some common MSc Environmental Science job profiles for individuals in India:

Job Profiles

Average Salary in INR

Environmental Consultant

6.9 LPA

Environmental Scientist

3.5 LPA

Environmental Manager

8.8 LPA

Climate Change Analyst

16 LPA

Sustainability Manager

13 LPA

Water Resource Manager

18 LPA

Environmental Policy Analyst

3 LPA

Q. Environmental Science or Environmental Engineering: Which is better?

A. You can check the table below to see the comparison between the two courses.

Parameters

Environmental Science

Environmental Engineering

Course Level

UG, PG, PhD and Diploma

UG, PG and Diploma

Duration

2 - 3 years

2-4 years

Course Fees

Rs. 432 - Rs. 7.2 Lakh

Rs. 5 Lakh - Rs. 10 Lakh

Job Profiles

Research Associate, Environment Journalist, Naturalist, Ecologist, etc.

Wasteland Ecologist, Safety Design Manager, Air Quality Engineer

Average Salary

1.2 - 7.5 LPA

Upto 10 LPA

Q. Environmental Science vs Ecology: Which is better?

A. Students can check the table below to see the comparison between the two courses.

Parameters

Environmental Science

Ecology

Course Level

UG, PG, PhD and Diploma

UG, PG, PhD and Diploma

 Duration

2 - 3 years

2-3 years

Course Fees

INR 432 - INR 7.2 Lakh

20,000-50,000 (semester wise)

Entrances

CUET, CUET PG

NPAT, CUET

Job Profiles

Research Associate, Environment Journalist, Naturalist, Ecologist, etc.

Wasteland Ecologist, Safety Design Manager, Air Quality Engineer, Waste Resource Manager

Average Salary

1.2 - 7.5 LPA

Upto 10 LPA

Q. Do Environmental Science jobs offer good salary packages?

A. Yes, this course can pay well particularly for those with experience and advanced degrees. Environmental science careers can take you from working for the government to positions in the private sector, non profits and research facilities. All things considered, the field provides chances for good earning potential and satisfaction score.

Q. What are the different kinds of jobs in the Environmental Science field? What’s the average salary for an Environmental Science employee?

A. You can have a lot of career options after earning a degree in this field. Recruiters like the Water Authority, the Pollution Control Board, and Urban Planning, are hiring in this field. 

You can find employment as a manager in food processing companies as well as in fertilizer plants. Graduates in this field can also find jobs as environmental journalists for any newspaper, magazine, or television network. There are a growing number of NGOs addressing environmental issues; you are welcome to join any of these groups based on your preferences.

Some Environmental Science jobs include Environmental Scientist, Environmental Consultant, Environmental Science Manager, Lecturer, Wildlife Film-maker, Environment Photographer, Environment Journalist and more.

Q. Can I get a job in ISRO with an Environmental Science degree?

A. Yes, ISRO hires for job positions like Junior Research Fellow, Research Associate, Research Scientist, etc., on both temporary and permanent basis. The degrees required to apply for a job in ISRO are MSc Forestry/ Botany/ Ecology/ Environmental Sciences/ Wildlife Sciences/ Biodiversity & Conservation. But Environmental Science vacancies are limited in numbers, students must prepare well for the interview rounds.

Table of content
  • Popular Environmental Sciences Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Environmental Sciences Colleges in India
  • Popular Exams
  • Most Popular Courses
  • Popular Environmental Sciences UG Courses
  • Popular Environmental Sciences PG Courses

Popular Environmental Sciences Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Environmental Sciences Colleges in India. Learn more about these Environmental Sciences colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
5 Courses
6.66 K
9 LPA

#10 NIRF

1.1 L - 4.8 L
2.3

#38 NIRF

Environmental Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

24 K
4 LPA

#11 NIRF

1.49 L - 2.81 L
4.5

#11 India Today

2.25 L

#108 NIRF

1 Course
80.86 K
2 LPA

#28 Outlook

Popular Private Environmental Sciences Colleges in India

1.92 L - 2.09 L

#29 India Today

Environmental Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

2.5 L
2 Courses
3.55 L - 5.13 L
4.8 L
5.0
2.1 L - 3.07 L
5.0

#121 NIRF

90 K

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Environmental Sciences. Students interested in pursuing a career on Environmental Sciences, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

Mar '26

CUET 2026 Application Process

TENTATIVE

May '26 - Jun '26

CUET 2026 Exam

TENTATIVE

Nov '25

UPCATET 2025 UG, PG, PhD: Download counselling le...

TENTATIVE

Nov '25

UPCATET Counselling 2025: Campus Reporting UG Can...

TENTATIVE

Nov '25

OUAT 2025 Campus Reporting for Master's Programme...

TENTATIVE

Jan '26

OUAT 2025 Campus Reporting for MVSC Courses for ...

TENTATIVE

Popular Environmental Sciences UG Courses

Following are the most popular Environmental Sciences UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Environmental Sciences PG Courses

Following are the most popular Environmental Sciences PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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