Conservation Scientists
Conservation Scientists (SOC 19-1031) earn a median $73,010 a year ($35.10 an hour) in the United States, with 25,950 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What conservation scientists do
Conservation scientists manage, improve, and protect natural resources so that they can be used without being damaged. Their work touches soils, rangelands, and other natural resource lands, and they advise land users such as farmers and ranchers. Typical tasks include applying agronomy, soil science, forestry, and other fields to land problems, planning conservation measures such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, and erosion control, and advising land users on problems and alternatives. They also monitor projects during and after construction to confirm they match the design, and they run soil surveys and develop plans to protect rangeland. The occupation differs from foresters, who have a separate classification for managing forested land, from environmental scientists, who focus on pollution and hazards, and from soil and plant scientists, who do more research on crops and soils. They also compute design specifications for conservation practices from survey or field information, use geographic information systems data to formulate plans, and join teams that plan programs and policies for improving the environment.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Agricultural Consultant, Aquatic Ecologist, Aquatic Habitat Restoration Technician, Botany Technician, Agriculture Consultant.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $22.86 | $27.74 | $35.10 | $44.02 | $53.08 | $37.08 | 25,950 |
| Annual | $47,550 | $57,700 | $73,010 | $91,560 | $110,410 | $77,130 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where conservation scientists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $31.79 | $37.05 | $47.79 | $57.26 | $68.48 | $47.62 | 110 | 0.16 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $66,130 | $77,060 | $99,400 | $119,100 | $142,430 | $99,050 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $27.75 | $32.58 | $40.78 | $52.18 | $64.59 | $43.04 | 1,230 | 0.43 | 2.57 |
| Annual | $57,710 | $67,770 | $84,820 | $108,540 | $134,350 | $89,530 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $27.77 | $32.14 | $40.04 | $51.69 | $61.83 | $43.18 | 470 | 0.17 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $57,760 | $66,850 | $83,290 | $107,520 | $128,610 | $89,820 | ||||
| Idaho | Hourly | $22.74 | $29.38 | $39.10 | $41.47 | $47.86 | $36.81 | 300 | 0.36 | 2.13 |
| Annual | $47,300 | $61,110 | $81,330 | $86,260 | $99,560 | $76,560 | ||||
| Wyoming | Hourly | $24.01 | $30.68 | $39.09 | $43.83 | $48.28 | $37.85 | 150 | 0.54 | 3.24 |
| Annual | $49,940 | $63,810 | $81,310 | $91,170 | $100,420 | $78,740 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $25.79 | $30.92 | $38.37 | $50.48 | $63.49 | $42.32 | 2,110 | 0.12 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $53,650 | $64,310 | $79,810 | $104,990 | $132,060 | $88,030 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $25.69 | $28.11 | $32.99 | $39.09 | $44.39 | $34.16 | 1,970 | 0.14 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $53,440 | $58,470 | $68,620 | $81,310 | $92,320 | $71,060 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $28.70 | $29.93 | $37.72 | $42.69 | $51.30 | $39.09 | 1,270 | 0.36 | 2.14 |
| Annual | $59,700 | $62,240 | $78,450 | $88,790 | $106,710 | $81,300 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $27.75 | $32.58 | $40.78 | $52.18 | $64.59 | $43.04 | 1,230 | 0.43 | 2.57 |
| Annual | $57,710 | $67,770 | $84,820 | $108,540 | $134,350 | $89,530 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $29.38 | $33.87 | $38.84 | $50.33 | $62.69 | $43.05 | 1,020 | 0.52 | 3.10 |
| Annual | $61,110 | $70,450 | $80,790 | $104,690 | $130,400 | $89,550 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $33.25 | $41.94 | $52.98 | $69.18 | $80.18 | $57.13 | 70 | 0.07 | 0.39 |
| Annual | $69,170 | $87,230 | $110,200 | $143,890 | $166,780 | $118,820 | ||||
| Springfield, IL | Hourly | $30.35 | $37.68 | $51.92 | $63.46 | $66.92 | $50.66 | 40 | 0.37 | 2.22 |
| Annual | $63,130 | $78,380 | $107,990 | $131,990 | $139,190 | $105,360 | ||||
| Boulder, CO | Hourly | $34.35 | $38.90 | $48.74 | $53.85 | $66.19 | $47.19 | 70 | 0.35 | 2.09 |
| Annual | $71,440 | $80,910 | $101,380 | $112,010 | $137,670 | $98,160 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $29.55 | $36.08 | $47.77 | $63.76 | $88.63 | $52.29 | 490 | 0.16 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $61,460 | $75,040 | $99,360 | $132,620 | $184,350 | $108,770 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $30.00 | $37.95 | $47.02 | $52.21 | $63.83 | $47.66 | 410 | 0.17 | 1.03 |
| Annual | $62,400 | $78,940 | $97,810 | $108,590 | $132,760 | $99,130 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | Hourly | $25.72 | $32.58 | $40.78 | $52.18 | $66.67 | $41.92 | 650 | 3.85 | 23.08 |
| Annual | $53,490 | $67,770 | $84,820 | $108,540 | $138,680 | $87,190 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $24.24 | $27.49 | $30.78 | $42.11 | $51.13 | $35.78 | 590 | 0.06 | 0.37 |
| Annual | $50,420 | $57,190 | $64,020 | $87,590 | $106,350 | $74,430 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $29.55 | $36.08 | $47.77 | $63.76 | $88.63 | $52.29 | 490 | 0.16 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $61,460 | $75,040 | $99,360 | $132,620 | $184,350 | $108,770 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $24.55 | $30.23 | $37.78 | $43.12 | $53.70 | $38.77 | 480 | 0.18 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $51,070 | $62,880 | $78,580 | $89,690 | $111,700 | $80,630 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $29.31 | $36.13 | $40.18 | $55.52 | $69.72 | $46.77 | 450 | 0.37 | 2.23 |
| Annual | $60,970 | $75,140 | $83,580 | $115,480 | $145,030 | $97,290 | ||||
Top industries employing conservation scientists
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) employ 26.9% of conservation scientists nationally (6,970 jobs) at a median $88,610 a year ($42.60 an hour), followed by Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (22.0%) and Social Advocacy Organizations (20.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 6,970 | 26.9% | $88,610 | $42.60 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 5,720 | 22.0% | $62,710 | $30.15 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations NAICS 813300 | 5,190 | 20.0% | $71,180 | $34.22 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 4,830 | 18.6% | $68,620 | $32.99 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 1,060 | 4.1% | $73,660 | $35.42 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (25,950). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $63,750 for conservation scientists in May 2021 and $73,010 in May 2025, with employment of 22,550 and 25,950.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $63,750 | $30.65 | 22,550 |
| May 2022 | $64,460 | $30.99 | 22,880 |
| May 2023 | $68,750 | $33.05 | 22,790 |
| May 2024 | $67,950 | $32.67 | 25,590 |
| May 2025 | $73,010 | $35.10 | 25,950 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $47.79 | $99,400 | $66,130 | $142,430 | 110 | 0.16 | 0.97 |
| 2 | Colorado profile | $40.78 | $84,820 | $57,710 | $134,350 | 1,230 | 0.43 | 2.57 |
| 3 | Maryland profile | $40.04 | $83,290 | $57,760 | $128,610 | 470 | 0.17 | 1.02 |
| 4 | Idaho profile | $39.10 | $81,330 | $47,300 | $99,560 | 300 | 0.36 | 2.13 |
| 5 | Wyoming profile | $39.09 | $81,310 | $49,940 | $100,420 | 150 | 0.54 | 3.24 |
| 6 | Oregon profile | $38.84 | $80,790 | $61,110 | $130,400 | 1,020 | 0.52 | 3.10 |
| 7 | Louisiana profile | $38.56 | $80,190 | $29,520 | $136,990 | 190 | 0.10 | 0.60 |
| 8 | California profile | $38.37 | $79,810 | $53,650 | $132,060 | 2,110 | 0.12 | 0.69 |
| 9 | Wisconsin profile | $38.24 | $79,540 | $47,440 | $102,750 | 970 | 0.33 | 1.97 |
| 10 | Alaska profile | $38.10 | $79,260 | $53,830 | $135,120 | 290 | 0.89 | 5.30 |
| 11 | Utah profile | $37.91 | $78,850 | $55,090 | $104,000 | 410 | 0.24 | 1.41 |
| 12 | Massachusetts profile | $37.85 | $78,740 | $51,070 | $119,460 | 760 | 0.21 | 1.26 |
| 13 | Washington profile | $37.72 | $78,450 | $59,700 | $106,710 | 1,270 | 0.36 | 2.14 |
| 14 | Virginia profile | $37.20 | $77,380 | $45,910 | $161,470 | 480 | 0.12 | 0.70 |
| 15 | North Dakota profile | $37.15 | $77,280 | $51,470 | $109,300 | 340 | 0.79 | 4.70 |
| 16 | Alabama profile | $37.02 | $77,000 | $48,730 | $115,590 | 110 | 0.05 | 0.31 |
| 17 | New York profile | $37.01 | $76,990 | $46,580 | $115,210 | 640 | 0.07 | 0.40 |
| 18 | New Mexico profile | $36.92 | $76,800 | $46,520 | $111,010 | 330 | 0.38 | 2.25 |
| 19 | Nebraska profile | $36.73 | $76,400 | $54,500 | $106,330 | 220 | 0.22 | 1.30 |
| 20 | South Dakota profile | $36.73 | $76,400 | $51,100 | $100,420 | 360 | 0.78 | 4.66 |
| 21 | Rhode Island profile | $36.60 | $76,130 | $56,580 | $173,650 | 60 | 0.11 | 0.66 |
| 22 | Maine profile | $36.49 | $75,900 | $48,150 | $107,680 | 290 | 0.46 | 2.75 |
| 23 | New Hampshire profile | $35.89 | $74,650 | $44,340 | $103,710 | 130 | 0.19 | 1.14 |
| 24 | Montana profile | $35.54 | $73,920 | $48,660 | $106,330 | 560 | 1.09 | 6.53 |
| 25 | Connecticut profile | $35.51 | $73,860 | $65,430 | $123,320 | 140 | 0.08 | 0.50 |
| 26 | Arkansas profile | $35.25 | $73,320 | $51,630 | $109,300 | 230 | 0.18 | 1.06 |
| 27 | Nevada profile | $35.11 | $73,030 | $36,780 | $107,920 | 210 | 0.13 | 0.79 |
| 28 | Kentucky profile | $34.61 | $71,980 | $45,710 | $106,330 | 180 | 0.09 | 0.53 |
| 29 | Minnesota profile | $34.27 | $71,280 | $45,740 | $106,330 | 770 | 0.26 | 1.57 |
| 30 | Oklahoma profile | $34.26 | $71,270 | $42,000 | $106,420 | 310 | 0.18 | 1.07 |
| 31 | Tennessee profile | $33.90 | $70,500 | $48,190 | $109,300 | 250 | 0.08 | 0.46 |
| 32 | Vermont profile | $33.72 | $70,130 | $49,750 | $105,420 | 100 | 0.33 | 2.00 |
| 33 | West Virginia profile | $33.61 | $69,910 | $42,670 | $133,470 | 160 | 0.23 | 1.39 |
| 34 | Illinois profile | $33.46 | $69,590 | $42,020 | $117,590 | 730 | 0.12 | 0.72 |
| 35 | Georgia profile | $33.29 | $69,240 | $49,230 | $137,450 | 360 | 0.07 | 0.44 |
| 36 | Iowa profile | $33.29 | $69,240 | $50,320 | $97,870 | 610 | 0.39 | 2.36 |
| 37 | Texas profile | $32.99 | $68,620 | $53,440 | $92,320 | 1,970 | 0.14 | 0.84 |
| 38 | Kansas profile | $32.31 | $67,200 | $48,440 | $105,370 | 220 | 0.15 | 0.91 |
| 39 | Arizona profile | $32.09 | $66,750 | $47,410 | $104,750 | 410 | 0.13 | 0.76 |
| 40 | Hawaii profile | $31.61 | $65,740 | $42,300 | $132,020 | 220 | 0.36 | 2.14 |
| 41 | Indiana profile | $31.04 | $64,570 | $39,200 | $105,020 | 430 | 0.13 | 0.80 |
| 42 | North Carolina profile | $30.99 | $64,460 | $47,190 | $111,740 | 540 | 0.11 | 0.65 |
| 43 | New Jersey profile | $30.78 | $64,020 | $50,340 | $107,240 | 500 | 0.12 | 0.70 |
| 44 | Delaware profile | $30.70 | $63,850 | $48,650 | $89,990 | 80 | 0.17 | 1.02 |
| 45 | Michigan profile | $30.53 | $63,500 | $44,680 | $109,300 | 820 | 0.19 | 1.12 |
| 46 | Ohio profile | $30.37 | $63,160 | $44,070 | $99,780 | 680 | 0.12 | 0.74 |
| 47 | Missouri profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $44,570 | $97,680 | 600 | 0.20 | 1.22 |
| 48 | Pennsylvania profile | $29.56 | $61,480 | $38,560 | $93,100 | 900 | 0.15 | 0.89 |
| 49 | Mississippi profile | $28.61 | $59,510 | $42,160 | $106,330 | 470 | 0.40 | 2.42 |
| 50 | South Carolina profile | $25.15 | $52,310 | $37,810 | $96,100 | 300 | 0.13 | 0.78 |
| 51 | Florida profile | $24.58 | $51,130 | $37,110 | $98,360 | 950 | 0.10 | 0.57 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (19-1030), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 19-1031 Conservation Scientists.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 19-1031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 19-1031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.