What is the salary of a Conservation Scientist?

The typical salary range is $47,565 - $95,130 per year.

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What skills should I start building now for Conservation Scientist?

Research & DevelopmentGrowingBright Outlook

Conservation Scientist

Mid-level

Also known as: Agricultural Consultant, Agriculture Consultant, Aquatic Ecologist, Aquatic Habitat Restoration Technician

Research & DevelopmentBachelor's Degree

Job Description

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.

Conservation ScienceNatural Resource ManagementEnvironmental ScienceSoil ScienceAgricultureResearchEcologyScienceEnvironmentSTEM

A Day in the Life

You arrive at the state environmental agency office, nestled on the edge of a mid-sized agricultural town. Your desktop monitor glows, displaying an email from a local rancher about concerns over rangeland degradation. You open ArcGIS Pro to review their property’s satellite imagery and historical soil maps, plotting potential survey points for later. A strong coffee is a must as you mentally prioritize tasks, knowing your schedule often shifts with urgent field calls.

Skills employers are looking for in 2027

Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.

Hot technologies

Adobe Acrobat Autodesk AutoCAD ESRI ArcGIS software Microsoft Access Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word

In-demand software

ESRI ArcGIS softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPoint

Job Outlook 2025-2035

Bright Outlook

O*NET flags this career as a Bright Outlook occupation: grows rapidly over the next decade.

Projected growth

+5.3%

US average: +3.5%

Job openings

2,100

per year (US)

Jobs today

27,700

in 2025 → 29,200 (2035)

Typical entry education

Bachelor's degree

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

Work Environment

How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.

Email & digital communication

High

Working in a team

High

Contact with others

High

Freedom to make decisions

High

Time pressure

Moderate

Time spent sitting

Moderate

Working outdoors

High

Indoor, climate-controlled

High

Dealing with customers

High

Level of competition

Moderate

Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)

Future Perspective

Growing Job Market

The outlook for Conservation Scientists is growing rapidly, with a projected employment change of +5.3% through 2035. About 2,100 job openings are expected each year, and the median annual wage is around $73,010. You can advance in this field from roles like an Environmental Technician to positions such as Senior Conservation Manager or Environmental Consultant, taking on more responsibility.

Career ladder

Often before this role

Environmental Technician
Field Assistant (Conservation)
Park Ranger

Conservation Scientist

Where it can lead

Environmental Consultant
Senior Conservation Manager
Director of Environmental Programs

Impact of AI on this Job

AI will significantly enhance the work of conservation scientists by enabling more efficient data collection and analysis from remote sensing, drones, and sensor networks. Predictive modeling powered by AI will improve forecasting of environmental changes, resource management strategies, and the identification of at-risk areas. This will lead to more precise and proactive conservation efforts.

Salary

$73,010

Median annual wage, BLS 2025

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum educational requirement for this position