Occupation · SOC 19-1031
Conservation Scientists
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 INTEGER 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.
Median wage
$67,950
$45,260–$107,720
Projected growth
+3.5%
Average growth
Annual openings
100
per year
Employed (US)
25,590
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
585 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingWritingScienceCritical ThinkingTime ManagementSocial PerceptivenessMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisService OrientationPersuasionMathematicsCoordinationNegotiationManagement of Personnel ResourcesLearning StrategiesInstructingOperations MonitoringOperations AnalysisManagement of Material ResourcesQuality Control AnalysisOperation and ControlManagement of Financial ResourcesTroubleshootingTechnology DesignProgrammingEquipment SelectionRepairingInstallationEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
English LanguageBiologyMathematicsGeographyCustomer and Personal ServiceChemistryLaw and GovernmentComputers and ElectronicsEngineering and TechnologyEducation and TrainingPhysicsDesignAdministration and ManagementPublic Safety and SecurityCommunications and MediaAdministrativeFood ProductionBuilding and ConstructionPersonnel and Human ResourcesTelecommunicationsMechanicalSales and MarketingEconomics and AccountingProduction and ProcessingPsychologyHistory and ArcheologySociology and AnthropologyTransportationForeign LanguagePhilosophy and TheologyTherapy and CounselingMedicine and DentistryFine Arts
Technology & tools
Adobe AcrobatAutodesk AutoCADAutodesk MayaClover Technology GALENACroPManCropSyst SuiteDatasurge GEOPRODelft GeoSystems MStabESRI ArcGIS softwareESRI ArcInfoESRI ArcViewEmail softwareGEO-SLOPE SEEP/WGFA2DGeographic information system GIS softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsGlobal positioning system GPS softwareHYDRUS-2DInterstudio Geo-Tec BLandscape Management System LMSMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Active Server Pages ASPMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordMitre Software GSLOPESalix Applied Earthcare Erosion DrawState Soil Geographic STATSGO DatabaseStudio of Analytical Models STANMODU.S. Department of Agriculture USDA WinSRMUSDA Forest Vegetation Simulator FVSWater Soil and Hydro-Environmental Decision Support System WATERSHEDSSWater resources databasesWeb browser softwareWinEPICWord processing software
Representative tasks
Analyzing Data or InformationWorking with ComputersGetting InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesDocumenting/Recording InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersProcessing InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationPerforming General Physical ActivitiesMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsScheduling Work and ActivitiesIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicTraining and Teaching OthersThinking CreativelyProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeoplePerforming Administrative ActivitiesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsHandling and Moving ObjectsAssisting and Caring for OthersSelling or Influencing OthersDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentControlling Machines and ProcessesStaffing Organizational UnitsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Conservation principles from agronomy, soil science, and forestry — identify and apply under direct supervision to support field-based conservation objectives.Soil management practices such as crop rotation and contour plowing — recognize and document under guidance while assisting with conservation planning activities.Construction monitoring protocols — follow established checklists to verify that project elements conform to design specifications on supervised site visits.GIS databases and mapping applications — retrieve and organize spatial data under direction to support land use assessment tasks.Technical guides and engineering manuals — read and interpret to extract relevant parameters needed for conservation practice calculations.Soil and water management techniques such as erosion control and filter strips — assist in implementation activities according to approved conservation plans.Field data collection instruments and mobile survey tools — operate under supervision to gather soil, vegetation, and hydrological measurements.Conservation-related scientific literature and regulatory documents — read and summarize findings to support team planning and reporting efforts.Spreadsheet and database software — enter, organize, and query field and laboratory data to maintain accurate conservation project records.Work team meetings focused on habitat or wetland improvement programs — participate by contributing field observations and supporting assigned research tasks.
developing
Specialized scientific principles from soil science, agronomy, and forestry — apply routinely to formulate conservation recommendations for assigned land units with limited oversight.Soil and water conservation plans including reforestation, terracing, and permanent vegetation — develop and document for standard land use scenarios with reduced supervisory review.Post-construction project monitoring — conduct scheduled site inspections and prepare compliance reports confirming adherence to design specifications.Land users such as farmers and ranchers — advise on conservation plan options and common problems using clear technical communication and established agency guidelines.Nutrient management, buffer strips, and erosion control measures — implement and adjust in the field in accordance with approved conservation plans and site conditions.Design specification computations — calculate using survey data, field measurements, and technical engineering manuals for typical conservation practice installations.GIS applications and spatial databases — analyze geographic data independently to generate land use maps and preliminary conservation recommendations.Analytical and scientific software — process soil, water quality, and vegetation data to evaluate conservation outcomes and prepare summary findings.Environmental habitat and groundwater improvement programs — contribute substantively to interdisciplinary work team planning sessions and draft sections of program proposals.Written technical reports and agency correspondence — compose and revise clearly to convey conservation findings and practice recommendations to supervisors and stakeholders.
proficient
Multi-disciplinary scientific principles spanning agronomy, soil science, hydrology, and forestry — integrate autonomously to design comprehensive conservation strategies across complex, non-routine land management scenarios.Full-scope soil management and water conservation plans — develop independently for diverse agricultural, rangeland, and forested landscapes, resolving competing land use priorities.Construction and post-installation monitoring programs — design, lead, and evaluate to ensure ongoing project conformance and adaptive management of conservation practices.Farmers, ranchers, and agency stakeholders — advise on complex conservation challenges, alternative solutions, and regulatory requirements through persuasive, technically credible consultation.Integrated soil and water management systems including erosion control, nutrient management, and hydrological buffers — implement and troubleshoot across varied site conditions with full professional autonomy.Conservation practice design specifications — compute and validate using advanced engineering manuals, survey data, and CAD software for non-standard or high-complexity installations.GIS spatial analysis and remote sensing datasets — synthesize with field observations to produce actionable, evidence-based land use recommendations for watershed- or landscape-scale planning.Interdisciplinary teams addressing wetland restoration, habitat improvement, and groundwater resource management — lead technical contributions and coordinate work planning to deliver program objectives.Systems-level evaluation of conservation program outcomes — conduct using analytical software, field monitoring data, and statistical methods to assess effectiveness and recommend adjustments.Scientific and regulatory writing — produce authoritative reports, environmental assessments, and technical specifications that communicate complex findings clearly to diverse professional and public audiences.
advanced
Regional or statewide conservation science strategy — set direction by integrating emerging research across agronomy, soil science, hydrology, and ecology into agency-wide program goals and priorities.Conservation planning frameworks and land management policies — develop and champion at organizational or interagency scale, shaping standards that govern practice across multiple districts or jurisdictions.Quality assurance and adaptive management systems for construction monitoring — establish organization-wide protocols that ensure consistent project conformance and evidence-based program improvement.Senior land managers, agency executives, and elected officials — advise on high-stakes conservation policy decisions, translating complex scientific findings into strategic guidance with broad resource impact.Large-scale soil and water management initiatives — lead design, implementation, and evaluation, directing multidisciplinary teams and securing resources to achieve landscape-level conservation outcomes.Technical standards and engineering guidance documents — author and peer-review at the national or regional level to advance the profession's capacity to compute and apply conservation practice specifications.Enterprise GIS infrastructure and spatial data governance — direct development and integration strategies that enable organization-wide access to authoritative geographic information for conservation decision-making.Cross-agency and public–private partnership programs targeting wetland, habitat, and groundwater restoration — lead coalition building, negotiate agreements, and oversee program governance to achieve systemic environmental outcomes.Emerging conservation scientists and mid-career professionals — mentor, coach, and develop through structured training programs, fostering critical thinking, scientific integrity, and interdisciplinary problem-solving capacity.Organization-level performance measurement and systems evaluation — design and apply to assess the cumulative environmental impact of conservation investments and drive data-informed resource allocation decisions.
Also known as
57 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Agricultural ConsultantAgriculture ConsultantAquatic EcologistAquatic Habitat Restoration TechnicianBotany TechnicianConservation AgentConservation AssociateConservation EngineerConservation Policy AnalystConservation Science OfficerConservation ScientistConservation SpecialistConservationistDepartment of Natural Resources Officer (DNR Officer)District ConservationistEcologist TechnicianEnvironmental AnalystEnvironmental ConsultantEnvironmental PlannerEnvironmental Quality ScientistEnvironmental SpecialistErosion and Sediment Control ProfessionalErosion Control CoordinatorErosion Control Design and Installation ContractorErosion Control SpecialistFarm PlannerField AgronomistGrassland ConservationistInterdisciplinary Environmental EngineerLand Reclamation SpecialistLand Resource SpecialistLand Use PlannerNatural Resources ScientistNatural Resources SpecialistPhysical ScientistRange ConservationistRange EcologistRange ScientistReclamation SpecialistResearch Soil Scientist