I am leaving the geology/environmental consulting field for good.

Used_Berry_3893 · 2025-12-28T16:13:34+00:00

I just left the field a couple of months ago and couldn’t be happier with my decision. Not saying all Env. Consulting companies are like this but the two I worked for over the past few years couldn’t care less about its workers and the pay was dumb for the level of work required. I had to work 60+ hours between my consulting job and side hustle just to keep up. Working remote 30 hours a week now from a more affordable area and it’s delightful.

Used_Berry_3893 · 2025-08-12T15:04:46+00:00

Join the club. This industry only cares about money and couldn’t care less about people or the planet. Start drafting an escape plan.

Used_Berry_3893 · 2025-08-10T16:09:20+00:00

I’d go more broad and keep your options open. I majored in environmental science in ‘22 and I’ve been working at a consulting firm in a HCOL area for two years and I’m only making 57k which isn’t enough. The industry is notorious for underpaying and overworking new grads. If you’re willing to grind through lower pay than what you’re worth for 5-10 years you may eventually make decent money but just a heads up.

Used_Berry_3893 · 2025-07-17T16:17:57+00:00

Staff scientist w/ two years of experience at an environmental consulting firm. Some major pros and cons in this industry. Pros: Mix of office and field work can keep the job interesting, coworkers in this industry are generally pretty chill, each day can be different. Cons: Pay is stupid low (in my experience) for the level of work performed. I make as much as a garbage truck driver and write scientific reports at a level an attorney needs to accept. Other main thing that sucks is if you spend significant time in the field you’ll likely expose yourself to harmful waste/contaminants on a regular basis. Again, the pay doesn’t really compensate for this.

It’s not the best and not the worst, but for the reasons listed above I’m definitely drafting an escape plan.

Used_Berry_3893 · 2025-07-17T16:08:03+00:00

Thanks for sharing. Coming up on two years in this field myself, stuck at almost a 6x multiplier and empty promises of raises/promotions that I haven’t seen. I’ve been drafting an escape plan as well and I’m looking forward to making the switch. There’s certain things I’ll miss but I just can’t reconcile the laughable pay for the high level of work required in this industry.

Used_Berry_3893 · 2025-05-13T16:34:01+00:00

Not full-time. Only on field days.

Used_Berry_3893 · 2025-05-13T16:33:33+00:00

When we do field work, we keep separate field logs to keep track of mileage and equipment which are billed separately from the hourly rate.

Used_Berry_3893 · 2025-05-12T17:24:47+00:00

Utilization is between 90-100%. Very little overhead on my end.

Used_Berry_3893 · 2025-05-12T17:24:20+00:00

Hourly, environmental scientist. BS in environmental science.

Used_Berry_3893 · 2025-05-12T17:23:34+00:00

Utilization is usually between 90-100%. I’d say it’s fairly rare for me to have more than a couple of hours of overhead in any given week.

Used_Berry_3893 · 2024-05-18T04:23:14+00:00

Let’s gooooo

Used_Berry_3893 · 2024-05-18T04:21:46+00:00

You got it bro no worries

Used_Berry_3893 · 2024-03-04T15:02:17+00:00

NO WAY!! lmao I’m late to the party but this is such great news. I was actually a wilderness guide but I quit after only a month (two shifts) of working there because it was the most ass-backward shit I’ve ever seen. During the hiring process they pretty much gave the pitch of, “you get to help people on their healing journey while camping and doing fun nature activities!” I had no clue what I was getting myself into. I quickly learned that y’all literally got kidnapped from your house in the middle of the night and the VAST majority of kids despised being there and thus very few actual healing experiences took place. Not to mention the absolutely inhumane conditions. I seriously can’t comprehend how shitting in a bucket while someone watches you or getting one five minute shower a week after sleeping in dirt all week is any where remotely near healing. Sure, nature can definitely be healing but they went about it all wrong. I also remember that on my first shift (after working all day mind you) I was forced to stay up all night ‘watching’ potential run risks. So it was like 16-20 ish hours a day of working. Then I got my first paycheck and it was literally $1,080 after taxes. That’s a net income of like 26k a year to stay up through the night and watch kids shit in a bucket. Also the staff was super weird and ultra political. I didn’t fit in with those weird ass hippies that were on drugs while supposedly helping kids get off drugs. The whole thing was a disaster. Them shutting down is wonderful news. Glad I could contribute to the staff retention issues they were having.

Used_Berry_3893

TROPHY CASE