19-1031

Conservation Scientists

Role Overview

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. Excludes “Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists” (19-1023) and “Foresters” (19-1032).

Recommended Majors

Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture. Range Science and Management. Natural Resources/Conservation, General. Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General. Water, Wetlands, and Marine Resources Management. Land Use Planning and Management/Development. Forestry, General. Forest Sciences and Biology. Forest Management/Forest Resources Management. Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management. Ecology. Environmental Biology. Conservation Biology. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other. Sustainability Studies. Geography and Environmental Studies.

Related Careers

Agricultural and Food Science Technicians Agricultural and Food Scientists Agricultural Technicians Animal Scientists Anthropologists and Archeologists Astronomers

Salary by State (top paying)

State	Median salary
Oregon	$86,170
California	$81,620
Washington	$81,220
Colorado	$80,240
North Dakota	$79,790
Nevada	$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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for this career?

Projected growth and annual openings are from BLS Employment Projections. Use the sidebar for median salary and growth rate.

How does salary vary by state?

See the Salary by State table above for state-level median wages from OEWS data.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), BLS Employment Projections.

Median Annual Salary

$67,950

Projected Growth (10yr)

+3.4%

Avg. annual openings

2.5k

Market Insight

Explore salary and growth data to understand demand and earning potential for this role.