Conservation Scientists Career, Salary and Skills
Conservation Scientists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $73,010 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 25,950. Wage data is published for 184 locations.
Occupation 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.
O*NET code
19-1031.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$73,010
Hourly median
$35.10
Employment
25,950
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 3.75 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Speaking | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Science | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.50 | 3.75 |
| Writing | 3.50 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Active Learning | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.25 | 3.25 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.
Technology
- Web browser software
- WinEPIC
- Adobe Acrobat
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk Maya
- Clover Technology GALENA
- CroPMan
- CropSyst Suite
- Datasurge GEOPRO
- Delft GeoSystems MStab
- Email software
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- ESRI ArcInfo
- ESRI ArcView
Conservation Scientists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Conservation Scientists Salary in CAMedian $79,810 · Employment 2,110
- Conservation Scientists Salary in TXMedian $68,620 · Employment 1,970
- Conservation Scientists Salary in WAMedian $78,450 · Employment 1,270
- Conservation Scientists Salary in COMedian $84,820 · Employment 1,230
- Conservation Scientists Salary in ORMedian $80,790 · Employment 1,020
- Conservation Scientists Salary in WIMedian $79,540 · Employment 970
- Conservation Scientists Salary in FLMedian $51,130 · Employment 950
- Conservation Scientists Salary in PAMedian $61,480 · Employment 900
- Conservation Scientists Salary in MIMedian $63,500 · Employment 820
- Conservation Scientists Salary in MNMedian $71,280 · Employment 770
- Conservation Scientists Salary in MAMedian $78,740 · Employment 760
- Conservation Scientists Salary in ILMedian $69,590 · Employment 730
Related careers
- Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsNational median $76,780
- Environmental Compliance InspectorsNational median $80,730
- BiologistsNational median $98,920
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthNational median $55,090
- Water/Wastewater EngineersNational median $100,840
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersNational median $101,920
- Agricultural EngineersNational median $98,590
- Environmental EngineersNational median $107,110
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.