Transitioning from USGS Hydrology to Wetland Delineation. Looking for Career Advice
Hello everyone,
I’ve been working as a Hydrologic Technician with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) for about four years, and I recently learned about wetland delineation during a training with a coworker. From what I’ve seen so far, it seems like a career path that offers a good balance of salary, workload, stability, and work-life balance, which really caught my attention.
I’m considering taking the foundational delineation course through either Swamp School or the Wetland Training Institute, with the long-term goal of becoming fully certified once I meet the requirements.
A little about my background: I have a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science with a focus in Fisheries & Wildlife. Before working for the USGS, I worked as a Park Ranger in Aurora, Colorado. I currently live in Louisiana, but I’m hoping to relocate to another state in the near future. My top choice right now is coastal North Carolina, especially areas like Wilmington, Morehead City/Beaufort, or New Bern.
I’d really appreciate any advice or insight from people already working in wetland delineation or environmental consulting. I’m especially interested in hearing about:
Job demand and opportunities in coastal North Carolina
Overall career stability and growth potential
Recommended training/certification paths
Work-life balance and travel expectations
How valuable GIS skills are in this field
My interests are pretty broad and include GIS, conservation, consulting, public outreach, field data collection, and environmental science in general.
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.