Conservation Scientists

Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed

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.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $73,010/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$47,550$110,410

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +3.4% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.

About 2,500 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

Active ListeningReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingSpeakingScienceCritical ThinkingWritingMonitoringActive LearningSocial Perceptiveness

Top knowledge areas

English LanguageBiologyGeographyMathematicsCustomer and Personal ServiceChemistryLaw and GovernmentComputers and Electronics

Core tasks

• 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.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Conservation Scientists?

The median pay for Conservation Scientists is $73,010 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Conservation Scientists?

Employment for Conservation Scientists is projected to change +3.4% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.

What education is typically required for Conservation Scientists?

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

How many job openings are there each year for Conservation Scientists?

About 2,500 openings per year, on average, over the decade.