Education:
70%
Bachelor's Degree
13%
Master's Degree
Conservation Scientists
This is a sub-career of
Conservation Scientist or Forester
More sub-careers
Select a specialized sub-career for more details.
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Job Outlook:
As fast as average
Education:
Bachelor's degree
Salary
High:
$102,670.00
Average:
$69,810.00
Hourly
Average:
$33.56
What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
- 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.
Important Qualities
Analytical skills. Conservation scientists and foresters must be able to evaluate results from field tests and experiments to determine potential impacts on soil, forest lands, and the spread of fires.
Communication skills. Conservation scientists and foresters must convey information to firefighters, forest and conservation workers, landowners, and, sometimes, the public.
Critical-thinking skills. Conservation scientists and foresters use reasoning to reach conclusions and to determine improvements for forest conditions.
Management skills. Conservation scientists and foresters must be able to lead the forest and conservation workers and technicians they supervise.
Physical stamina. Conservation scientists and foresters may walk long distances in challenging terrain, such as steep or wooded areas, and may work in all kinds of weather conditions.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
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85% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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83% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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78% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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78% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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77% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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76% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
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75% | Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. | |
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74% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. | |
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70% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. | |
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66% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
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65% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
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72% | Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services. | |
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72% | Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service. | |
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72% | Enterprising - Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
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78% | Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. | |
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67% | Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. | |
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67% | Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. | |
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67% | Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. |
Aptitude
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
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78% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |
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75% | Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. | |
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72% | Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |
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69% | Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). | |
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69% | Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. | |
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69% | Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. | |
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66% | Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Develop plans to manage natural or renewable resources.
Advise others about land management or conservation.
Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards.
Inspect condition of natural environments.
Develop collaborative relationships between departments or with external organizations.
Apply knowledge or research findings to address environmental problems.
Collect geographical or geological field data.
Determine design criteria or specifications.
Plan natural resources conservation or restoration programs.
Mediate disputes.
Inspect condition of natural environments.
Communicate with the public on environmental issues.
Estimate green project costs.
Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures.
Advise others about environmental management or conservation.
Research sustainable agricultural processes or practices.
Direct natural resources management or conservation programs.
Advise others about land management or conservation.
Review plans or proposals for environmental conservation.
Advise others about environmental management or conservation.
Plan environmental research.
Direct natural resources management or conservation programs.
Plan natural resources conservation or restoration programs.
Assess compliance with environmental laws.
Plan natural resources conservation or restoration programs.
Review plans or proposals for environmental conservation.
Plan environmental research.
Record research or operational data.
Compile environmental or climatological data.
Analyze environmental data.
Review environmental permits, plans, or reports.
Review environmental permits, plans, or reports.
Advise others about land management or conservation.
Create maps.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
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99% | Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job? | |
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93% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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86% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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77% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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74% | In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment - How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)? | |
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73% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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73% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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72% | Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? | |
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72% | Outdoors, Exposed to Weather - How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions? | |
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72% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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68% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
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68% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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67% | Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos? | |
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65% | Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? | |
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72% | Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
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88% | Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. | |
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86% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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86% | Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. | |
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80% | Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
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79% | Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. | |
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79% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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78% | Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. | |
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76% | Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. | |
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76% | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. | |
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76% | Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. | |
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75% | Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. | |
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73% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
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73% | Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. | |
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71% | Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. | |
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70% | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. | |
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69% | Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. |
What Conservation Scientists and Foresters Do
Conservation scientists and foresters study forest and soil quality.
Conservation scientists and foresters manage the land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources.
Duties
Conservation scientists and foresters typically do the following:
- Oversee conservation and forestry activities to ensure compliance with government regulations and protection of habitats
- Negotiate terms and conditions for contracts related to forest harvesting or land use
- Establish plans for managing forest lands and resources
- Choose and prepare sites for new trees, using controlled burning, bulldozers, or herbicides to clear land
- Monitor forest-cleared lands and forest regeneration
- Direct and participate in forest fire suppression
- Work with private landowners, governments, farmers, and others to remove timber or improve land with minimal environmental damage
Conservation scientists and foresters evaluate data on forest and soil quality, assessing damage to trees and forest lands caused by fires and logging activities. In addition, they lead activities such as suppressing fires and planting seedlings. Fire-suppression activities include measuring the speed at which fires spread and the success of planned suppression.
Conservation scientists and foresters use a variety of tools and equipment. For example, they use clinometers to measure tree height, diameter tapes to measure tree circumference, and increment borers and bark gauges to measure tree growth for calculating timber volume and estimating growth rates. They also may use drones, aerial photographs, satellite images, and Geographic Information System (GIS) data to map large forest or range areas.
Conservation scientists manage, improve, and protect natural resources. They work with private landowners and federal, state, and local governments to find ways to use and improve the land while safeguarding the environment. They also advise farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers on ways to improve land while safeguarding the environment.
The following are examples of types of conservation scientists:
Conservation land managers work for land trusts or other conservation organizations to protect the wildlife habitats, biodiversity, scenic value, and other specific attributes of preserves and conservation lands.
Range managers, also called range conservationists, protect grazing lands to maximize their use without harming the environment. Rangelands contain many natural resources and cover millions of acres in the United States. Range managers may catalog animals, plants, and soils; develop resource management plans; help to restore ecosystems; or help oversee a ranch. They also maintain soil stability and vegetation for wildlife habitats, outdoor recreation, and other uses. Like foresters, range managers work to prevent and reduce wildfires and invasive species.
Soil and water conservationists give technical help in managing concerns related to soil and water. They develop programs to help landowners make their land productive without causing damage. They also help landowners and governments by advising on water quality, preserving water supplies, and handling erosion.
Foresters’ responsibilities vary by employer. Their duties may include creating plans to regenerate forested lands, monitoring the progress of reforested lands, and supervising tree harvests. They also design plans to keep forests free from disease, harmful insects, and damaging wildfires. Foresters may direct the work of forest and conservation workers and technicians.
The following are examples of types of foresters:
Procurement foresters contact, negotiate with, and buy timber from local forest owners. Procurement typically requires taking inventory on the type, amount, and location of a property’s standing timber. Procurement foresters then appraise the timber’s worth, negotiate its purchase, and draw up a contract for purchase and removal. After the contract is in place, these foresters usually subcontract with loggers or pulpwood cutters to fell trees and to help lay out roads for removing the timber.
Urban foresters live and work in cities and manage the trees. These workers focus on issues related to urban wellbeing, including air quality, shade, and storm water runoff.
Conservation education foresters train teachers and students about issues facing forest lands.
Work Environment
Conservation scientists held about 24,700 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of conservation scientists were as follows:
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 31% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 22 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 18 |
| Social advocacy organizations | 14 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 6 |
Foresters held about 11,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of foresters were as follows:
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 27% |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 12 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 12 |
| Support activities for agriculture and forestry | 11 |
| Forestry and logging | 5 |
Conservation scientists and foresters typically work in offices, in laboratories, and outdoors, sometimes traveling to remote locations. When visiting or working near logging operations or wood yards, they wear a hardhat and other protective gear to guard against injury. They also wear protective gear for activities related to fire suppression, which may include prevention or emergency response. Insect bites, poisonous plants, and other natural hazards also present some risk.
The work can be physically demanding. Some conservation scientists and foresters work outdoors in all types of weather. They may need to walk long distances through dense trees or plant growth.
Work Schedules
Most conservation scientists and foresters work full time, and schedules may vary to include weekends. Some work more than 40 hours per week, such as when traveling to remote locations.
Getting Started
How to Become a Conservation Scientist or Forester
Conservation scientists and foresters typically need a bachelor’s degree in forestry or a related field.
Conservation scientists and foresters typically need a bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, or a related field.
Education
To enter their occupation, conservation scientists and foresters typically need a bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources, or a related subject, such as agriculture or biology.
Bachelor’s degree programs in forestry and related fields typically include courses in biology, ecology, and forest measurement. Conservation scientists and foresters also typically have a background in Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, remote sensing, and other forms of computer modeling.
The Society of American Foresters accredits academic programs in forestry, urban forestry, and natural resources and ecosystem management.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Several states may require some type of credentialing process for conservation scientists and foresters. In some of these states, conservation scientists and foresters must be licensed; check with your state licensing board for more information.
Some conservation scientists and foresters earn optional certification related to their area of work. For example, the Society of American Foresters (SAF) offers forester certification to candidates who have at least a bachelor’s degree from a SAF-accredited or equivalent forestry program, professional experience, and passed an exam.
The Society for Range Management offers certification in rangeland management or as a range management consultant to candidates who have a bachelor's degree in range management of a related field, related work experience, and passed an exam.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of conservation scientists and foresters is projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 3,000 openings for conservation scientists and foresters are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Changing weather conditions and the development of unused land have contributed to a rise in wildfires. Preventing and suppressing these fires have become the primary concerns for managing forests and rangelands. In addition, with the increasing numbers of forest fires and of people who live on or near forest lands, foresters and conservation scientists will be needed to mitigate growing humanitarian and environmental impacts of forest fires.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about conservation scientists and foresters, including schools offering education in forestry, visit
Society of American Foresters (SAF)
For information about careers in forestry, particularly conservation forestry and land management, visit
Society for Range Management (SRM)
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of conservation scientists and foresters.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Agricultural and Food Scientists |
Agricultural and food scientists research ways to improve the efficiency and safety of agricultural establishments and products. |
Bachelor's degree | $74,940 |
|
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians |
Environmental science and protection technicians monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution and contamination. |
Associate's degree | $48,380 |
|
Firefighters |
Firefighters control and put out fires and respond to emergencies involving life, property, or the environment. |
Postsecondary nondegree award | $51,680 |
|
Forest and Conservation Workers |
Forest and conservation workers perform physical labor to improve the quality of natural areas such as forests, rangelands, and wetlands. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $32,270 |
|
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists |
Zoologists and wildlife biologists study animals, those both in captivity and in the wild, and how they interact with their ecosystems. |
Bachelor's degree | $67,430 |