Violet Rose Flower

Are you one of the many people who find something special in outdoor jobs and businesses? You get fresh air and sunshine, good healthy exercise, and--depending on the nature of the work--you get a day off when there is a blizzard or other storm. If you like the idea of outdoor work but haven't yet found the right position, here are some options you might not have considered.

1. Doing Wildlife Surveys

Animals need to be counted for a variety of reasons, including tracking the results of hunting, pollution, and habitat elimination. You can volunteer to help organizations that do the surveys, and this can be a good way to get some experience and see if you like the work. To get paid you'll often need bachelor's degree in wildlife conservation. Higher pay comes with more experience and organizational positions, although the latter will mean more indoor work.

2. Surveying

The job is one of careful measurements and working with precision instruments. In other words, you'll need some training and possibly a college degree for some positions. But you get to spend much of your time in open fields and the pay can be very good. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the average salary for a surveyor in 2008 was $55,980, and those who work in more specialized fields can command a premium for their services.

3. Picking Apples

Many small apple orchards in northern states like Michigan and Wisconsin do not have a ready supply of labor when the time for harvest comes. The picking season varies for different varieties of apples, but is generally from early September to late October. You need to be physically fit for this work, because you'll be climbing up and down ladders while carrying up to forty pounds of fruit. Often small orchard owners will pay you by the box or pound, and the most you can expect to make is not much over minimum wage when you start. After some experience a picker can make up to $15 per hour.

4. Cleaning Up Roadkill

Somebody has to get dead deer, dogs and other animals off the roads and highways so they do not become a health hazard. Though there are occasionally employment positions doing this, typically small one-man businesses bid for the work and are paid by states or municipalities. It isn't a nice job, but you will get exercise and it is an outdoor business.

5. Selling Wildflowers

Provided you check with the administrators of public lands to see what flowers are protected, you can pick and sell bouquets of wildflowers. You get to work outdoors and your product cost is zero, making for nice profits if you find a good market. By the way, sometimes small starts lead to big business, even with outdoor jobs. Celestial Seasonings, the multi-million dollar herbal tea company, was started by partners who collected their flowers and herbs in the mountains and meadows around Boulder, Colorado.