Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Conservationist
- Land Resource Specialist
- Research Soil Scientist
- Resource Conservationist
Alternate Job Titles
- Agricultural Consultant
- Agriculture Consultant
- Aquatic Ecologist
- Aquatic Habitat Restoration Technician
- Botany Technician
- Conservation Agent
- Conservation Associate
- Conservation Engineer
- Conservation Policy Analyst
- Conservation Science Officer
- Conservation Scientist
- Conservation Specialist
- Conservationist
- Department of Natural Resources Officer (DNR Officer)
- District Conservationist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- English Language
- Biology
- Mathematics
- Geography
- Customer and Personal Service
- Chemistry
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Complex Problem Solving
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Information Ordering
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Written Expression
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Clarity
- Flexibility of Closure
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Innovation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Independence
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
Tools & Equipment
- Desktop computers
- Digital cameras
- Dumpy levels
- Dutch augers
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Laptop computers
- Laser distance measurement systems
- Personal computers
- Theodolites
- Total stations
- Water samplers
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $45,260 |
| Median | $67,950 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $107,720 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 25,590
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Environmental Restoration Planners
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
Range Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $67,950
Industrial Ecologists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
Soil and Plant Scientists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $71,410
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.