### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Conservation Scientists and Foresters Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			conservation scientists imageConservation scientists and foresters manage and monitor overall land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources.							
						Quick Facts:     Conservation Scientists and Foresters2023     Median Pay
            						$68,300     per year
										$32.84     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    36,000Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    4% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    1,300What Conservation Scientists and Foresters Do
                                                
                        
                        
Conservation scientists and foresters manage the land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Conservation scientists and foresters work for federal, state, and local governments; on privately owned lands; or in social advocacy organizations. Most conservation scientists and foresters work full time, and schedules may vary.
            
                                                How to Become a Conservation Scientist or Forester
                                                
                        
Conservation scientists and foresters typically need a bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, or a related field.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for conservation scientists was $68,750 in May 2023.									                                														The median annual wage for foresters was $67,330 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        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.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for conservation scientists and foresters.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of conservation scientists and foresters with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about conservation scientists and foresters by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Conservation Scientists and Foresters Do 
            

			Conservation scientists and forestersConservation 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 damageConservation 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 and forestersConservation scientists and foresters typically work in offices, in laboratories, and outdoors, sometimes in remote locations performing fieldwork.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 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
                22Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                18Social advocacy organizations
                14Professional, scientific, and technical services
                6Foresters 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
                12Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                12Support activities for agriculture and forestry
                11Forestry and logging
                5Conservation 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.
 How to Become a Conservation Scientist or Forester

			Conservation scientists and forestersConservation 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.
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.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                        Conservation Scientists and ForestersMedian annual wages, May 2023Life scientists$88,620  Conservation scientists$68,750  Conservation scientists and foresters$68,300  Foresters$67,330  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for conservation scientists was $68,750 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $42,850, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $105,460.The median annual wage for foresters was $67,330 in May 2023. 


The lowest 10 percent earned less than $46,700, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $98,590.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for conservation scientists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Federal government, excluding postal service
                $82,910Professional, scientific, and technical services
                77,100Social advocacy organizations
                63,100Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                61,310State government, excluding education and hospitals
                60,860In May 2023, the median annual wages for foresters in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Federal government, excluding postal service
                $70,430Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                68,580State government, excluding education and hospitals
                62,750Most 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.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                       Conservation Scientists and ForestersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Life scientists7%  Conservation scientists4%  Conservation scientists and foresters4%  Total, all occupations3%  Foresters2%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			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.
			

                        Employment projections data for     conservation scientists and foresters, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Conservation scientists and foresters**
			19-1030
			36,000
			37,300
			4
			1,300
			Get data**Conservation scientists**
			19-1031
			24,700
			25,700
			4
			1,000
			Get data**Foresters**
			19-1032
			11,300
			11,600
			2
			300
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Conservation scientists
					Foresters **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 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
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Agricultural and Food Scientists**
            Agricultural and food scientists research ways to improve the efficiency and safety of agricultural establishments and products.
            Bachelor's degree
            $76,400**Environmental Science and Protection Technicians**
            Environmental science and protection technicians monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution and contamination, including those affecting public health.
            Associate's degree
            $50,660**Firefighters**
            Firefighters control and put out fires and respond to emergencies involving life, property, or the environment.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $57,120**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
            $33,940**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
            $70,600
 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
Forest Stewards Guild
Society for Range Management (SRM)
U.S. Forest Service
CareerOneStop
For career videos on conservation scientists and foresters, visit
Conservation scientists
Foresters

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Conservation ScientistsForestersPark NaturalistsRange Managers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Conservation Scientists and Foresters, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/conservation-scientists.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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