Conservation Scientists: Career Profile
Manage, improve, and protect natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment. May conduct soil surveys and develop plans to eliminate soil erosion or to protect rangelands. May instruct farmers, agricultural production managers, or ranchers in best ways to use crop rotation, contour plowing, or terracing to conserve soil and water; in the number and kind of livestock and forage plants best suited to particular ranges; and in range and farm improvements, such as fencing and reservoirs for stock watering.
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What Do Conservation Scientists Do?
Typical responsibilities of conservation scientists include:
- Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.
- Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water.
- Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.
- Advise land users, such as farmers or ranchers, on plans, problems, or alternative conservation solutions.
- Implement soil or water management techniques, such as nutrient management, erosion control, buffers, or filter strips, in accordance with conservation plans.
- Compute design specifications for implementation of conservation practices, using survey or field information, technical guides or engineering manuals.
- Gather information from geographic information systems (GIS) databases or applications to formulate land use recommendations.
- Participate on work teams to plan, develop, or implement programs or policies for improving environmental habitats, wetlands, or groundwater or soil resources.
What Conservation Scientists Need to Know
Successful conservation scientists rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Agricultural Consultant
- Agriculture Consultant
- Aquatic Ecologist
- Aquatic Habitat Restoration Technician
- Botany Technician
- Conservation Agent
- Conservation Associate
- Conservation Engineer
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 184,125 conservation scientists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +13.4% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Conservation Scientists Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $81,436 |
| Hourly median | $39.15 |
| 10th percentile | $58,712 |
| 25th percentile | $70,074 |
| 75th percentile | $92,798 |
| 90th percentile | $104,160 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $86,170 |
| California | $81,620 |
| Washington | $81,220 |
| Colorado | $80,240 |
| Nevada | $79,790 |
| North Dakota | $79,790 |
| Connecticut | $77,410 |
| Utah | $77,380 |
| Minnesota | $77,180 |
| Wyoming | $77,020 |
| Massachusetts | $76,750 |
| Alabama | $76,270 |
| Arizona | $76,100 |
| Wisconsin | $75,940 |
| Alaska | $75,470 |
| Maryland | $75,350 |
| Tennessee | $74,960 |
| Nebraska | $74,960 |
| Montana | $74,900 |
| Illinois | $72,550 |
| Idaho | $72,550 |
| Arkansas | $72,550 |
| South Dakota | $72,550 |
| New Mexico | $72,490 |
| West Virginia | $68,390 |
| Georgia | $67,950 |
| New Hampshire | $67,720 |
| Virginia | $67,200 |
| New York | $65,550 |
| Texas | $65,170 |
| Maine | $64,990 |
| Iowa | $64,010 |
| Puerto Rico | $63,960 |
| Kentucky | $63,960 |
| Indiana | $62,880 |
| Oklahoma | $61,960 |
| Vermont | $61,880 |
| North Carolina | $61,820 |
| Michigan | $61,010 |
| Missouri | $60,900 |
| New Jersey | $60,430 |
| Ohio | $59,780 |
| Louisiana | $58,480 |
| Mississippi | $56,980 |
| Delaware | $55,990 |
| South Carolina | $54,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $53,110 |
| Florida | $52,820 |
| Hawaii | $46,580 |
| Kansas | $45,880 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for conservation scientists differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $80,272 | 17.4% | 1.70 |
| Rocky Mountains | $77,766 | 9.4% | 2.87 |
| New England | $72,059 | 5.3% | 1.57 |
| Great Lakes | $67,709 | 13.7% | 1.17 |
| Southwest | $67,053 | 12.1% | 1.12 |
| Plains States | $66,894 | 12.3% | 2.27 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $63,960 | 0.2% | 0.40 |
| Southeast | $62,091 | 16.2% | 0.91 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Conservation Scientists
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $105,680 | 80 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $98,930 | 340 |
| Salem, OR | OR | $98,050 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $96,260 | 370 |
| Bend, OR | OR | $94,310 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $91,770 | 90 |
| Medford, OR | OR | $87,050 | 30 |
| Charlottesville, VA | VA | $86,730 | 30 |
Top Industries Employing Conservation Scientists
Most conservation scientists work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 5,250 | $62,940 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,170 | $72,010 |
| Educational Services | 830 | $64,110 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 330 | $49,980 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 50 | $76,990 |
Conservation Scientists work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for conservation scientists is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How to Become Conservation Scientists
Typical conservation scientists positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Water Resource Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (Primary-Long)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Agricultural Engineers (Supplemental)
- Water/Wastewater Engineers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Engineers (Supplemental)
- Soil and Plant Scientists (Primary-Short)
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for conservation scientists typically earn programs in:
Natural Resources and Conservation
8 programs across 4 majors
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
5 programs across 1 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
2 programs across 2 majors
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
2 programs across 2 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-1031.00 (Conservation Scientists).
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