Green Jobs
A green job is any job that helps create a healthier environment and a more sustainable future.
Whether you’re installing solar panels, improving building energy efficiency, or planting trees, these careers offer competitive wages, stability, and real opportunity—no degree or experience is required to get started. Green careers have entry-level jobs and career ladders to help you join the middle class with dedication, further training, and experience. Begin your journey today and help shape a brighter tomorrow.
Why Milwaukee?
Milwaukee is a city with deep roots in manufacturing, water innovation, and skilled trades, making it an ideal place to grow a green career. The city is investing in solar energy, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, green infrastructure, and urban forestry, creating new opportunities across a wide range of industries. Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office is executing on the City’s Climate and Equity Plan through programs such as the ME2 Energy Efficiency Program, FEED MKE food waste reduction program, Public EV Charging Network Program, initiatives like the Green Jobs Accelerator, and the Growing Milwaukee’s Tree Canopy project. Milwaukee is building a cleaner, more resilient future and striving to ensure all residents have equal access to these meaningful, family-supporting careers.
Explore Available Careers
No experience? No problem. The careers listed below offer strong entry-level wages and minimal requirements, making them great starting points for long-term growth. Each role includes an established career ladder that helps individuals advance over time. We believe these are some of the fastest-growing fields in Milwaukee. Many of these careers offer paid training or tuition support. For all Milwaukee Area Technical College-related training and education, visit the MATC Promise page to see if you qualify. Click on each career box to learn more about building a career—not just finding another job.
Green Jobs Accelerator
This website is part of the Green Jobs Accelerator, one of the Milwaukee Climate & Equity Plan's 10 Big Ideas. The Accelerator is a citywide effort to expand access to green careers and connect residents with training, transitional jobs, and long-term employment in sustainability-related fields.
It aims to:
- Build excitement for green jobs and careers
- Clarify training pathways
- Build skills through subsidized training
- Identify transitional jobs with career ladders
- Identify and create community benefits agreements for public projects
Supportive Services
Supportive services help remove barriers to employment by connecting people with resources such as transportation, childcare, and housing. The organizations below provide these services and more throughout Milwaukee. If you don't see what you need, check the Milwaukee-Area Guide to Community Resources or call 211 to get connected to local programs and assistance.
Community Advocates
Phone: 414-449-4777
Provides housing and utility assistance, tenant advocacy, behavioral health support, and basic needs resources for individuals and families.
Employ Milwaukee
Phone: 414-270-1700
Milwaukee County’s workforce development board connecting job seekers to training, career coaching, youth and adult employment programs, and additional supportive services.
Hunger Task Force
Phone: 414-777-0483
Milwaukee’s free and local food bank providing access to food pantries, mobile markets, and nutrition programs across the city.
Independence First
Phone: 414-291-7520
Offers employment and independent living services for people with disabilities, including job readiness, benefits counseling, and assistive technology access.
Milwaukee Urban League
Phone: 414-374-5850
Delivers job readiness training, career placement, education support, and economic empowerment programs, with a focus on serving Milwaukee’s African American community.
Rental Housing Resource Center
Phone: 414-895-RENT (7368)
A collaborative hub offering eviction prevention, emergency rental assistance, tenant-landlord mediation, and legal aid navigation.
UMOS (United Migrant Opportunity Services)
Phone: 414-389-6000
Provides employment services, job training, housing assistance, education programs, and family support with a focus on Latino, migrant, and underserved communities in Milwaukee.
Wisconsin Community Services (WCS)
Phone: 414-290-0400
Provides reentry services, driver’s license recovery, housing and mental health support, and workforce development for individuals facing barriers to employment.
WRTP | BIG STEP
Phone: 414-342-9787
Prepares individuals for family-sustaining careers through hands-on training and direct access to apprenticeships in construction, manufacturing, and more.
Additional Resources
The National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) provides the base-level skill set needed for entry-level workers to properly construct, inspect and maintain green stormwater infrastructure. Designed to meet international best practice standards, NGICP is a tool that can be used for professional development and as part of a larger workforce development to provide candidates with the technical skills necessary to enter the green workforce.
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewarage District is participating in the program to help Milwaukee grow its green workforce by providing community members with the skills to design, install, and maintain green infrastructure while earning a livable wage.
