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 ListeningComplex Problem SolvingSpeakingWritingScienceCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge areas
English LanguageBiologyMathematicsGeographyCustomer and Personal Service
Technology & tools
Document management softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareData base user interface and query software
Representative tasks
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.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.Compute cost estimates of different conservation practices, based on needs of land users, maintenance requirements, or life expectancy of practices.Develop or maintain working relationships with local government staff or board members.Revisit land users to view implemented land use practices or plans.Provide information, knowledge, expertise, or training to government agencies at all levels to solve water or soil management problems or to assure coordination of resource protection activities.Visit areas affected by erosion problems to identify causes or determine solutions.Enter local soil, water, or other environmental data into adaptive or Web-based decision tools to identify appropriate analyses or techniques.Analyze results of investigations to determine measures needed to maintain or restore proper soil management.Develop, conduct, or participate in surveys, studies, or investigations of various land uses to inform corrective action plans.Coordinate or implement technical, financial, or administrative assistance programs for local government units to ensure efficient program implementation or timely responses to requests for assistance.Respond to complaints or questions on wetland jurisdiction, providing information or clarification.Compile or interpret biodata to determine extent or type of wetlands or to aid in program formulation.Review or approve amendments to comprehensive local water plans or conservation district plans.Review proposed wetland restoration easements or provide technical recommendations.Develop soil maps.Manage field offices or involve staff in cooperative ventures.Initiate, schedule, or conduct annual audits or compliance checks of program implementation by local government.Identify or recommend integrated weed and pest management (IPM) strategies, such as resistant plants, cultural or behavioral controls, soil amendments, insects, natural enemies, barriers, or pesticides.Review annual reports of counties, conservation districts, or watershed management organizations, certifying compliance with mandated reporting requirements.Review grant applications or make funding recommendations.Develop or conduct environmental studies, such as plant material field trials or wildlife habitat impact studies.Conduct fact-finding or mediation sessions among government units, landowners, or other agencies to resolve disputes.Develop water conservation or harvest plans, using weather information systems, irrigation information management systems, or other sources of daily evapotranspiration (ET) data.
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
58 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Wetland SpecialistNatural Resources ScientistAgriculture ConsultantEnvironmental AnalystWetland ScientistLand Reclamation SpecialistResource ConservationistInterdisciplinary Environmental EngineerRange ScientistEnvironmental ConsultantEnvironmental Quality ScientistConservation EngineerPhysical ScientistWater ConservationistErosion Control Design and Installation ContractorResource ScientistGrassland ConservationistEcologist TechnicianRange ConservationistConservationistEnvironmental Engineering Management Officer (Marine Corps 8831)Resource Physical SpecialistEnvironmental SpecialistErosion and Sediment Control ProfessionalTerrestrial EcologistResearch Soil ScientistConservation Policy AnalystErosion Control CoordinatorAquatic EcologistWetlands TechnicianDepartment of Natural Resources Officer (DNR Officer)Resource Conservation SpecialistField AgronomistLand Resource SpecialistFarm PlannerConservation SpecialistRestoration EcologistAquatic Habitat Restoration TechnicianEnvironmental PlannerResource Physical Scientist