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Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists earn a median $73,010 a year in the U.S., with 25,950 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $73,010 a year
- Employment
- 25,950
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +5.3%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 2,100
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $73,010 · $35.10 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $77,130 · $37.08 an hour (estimate error ±0.7%)
- 10th percentile
- $47,550 · $22.86 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $57,700 · $27.74 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $91,560 · $44.02 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $110,410 · $53.08 an hour
- Employment
- 25,950 (estimate error ±2.4%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
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. Excludes “Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists” (19-1023) and “Foresters” (19-1032).
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 27,700
- Projected for 2035
- 29,200
- Change
- +1,500 (+5.3%)
- Openings each year
- 2,100
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- 0.4%
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $99,400 | 110 |
| 2 | Colorado | $84,820 | 1,230 |
| 3 | Maryland | $83,290 | 470 |
| 4 | Idaho | $81,330 | 300 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $81,310 | 150 |
| 6 | Oregon | $80,790 | 1,020 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $80,190 | 190 |
| 8 | California | $79,810 | 2,110 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $79,540 | 970 |
| 10 | Alaska | $79,260 | 290 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | 2,110 | $79,810 |
| Texas | 1,970 | $68,620 |
| Washington | 1,270 | $78,450 |
| Colorado | 1,230 | $84,820 |
| Oregon | 1,020 | $80,790 |
| Wisconsin | 970 | $79,540 |
| Florida | 950 | $51,130 |
| Pennsylvania | 900 | $61,480 |
| Michigan | 820 | $63,500 |
| Minnesota | 770 | $71,280 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
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| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $99,360 | 490 |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $97,810 | 410 |
| 3 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $93,470 | 170 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $85,110 | 260 |
| 5 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $84,820 | 650 |
| 6 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $83,580 | 450 |
| 7 | Bend, OR | $82,630 | 100 |
| 8 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $82,380 | 310 |
| 9 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $81,190 | 230 |
| 10 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $78,980 | 220 |
| 11 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,580 | 480 |
| 12 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $78,460 | 320 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 650 | $84,820 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 590 | $64,020 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 490 | $99,360 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 480 | $78,580 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 450 | $83,580 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 430 | $68,620 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 410 | $97,810 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 370 | $62,710 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 320 | $78,460 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 310 | $76,940 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 310 | $75,090 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 310 | $58,590 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)24 certified filingsMedian offered wage $65,229
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)2 certified filingsMedian offered wage Not reported
Conservation Scientists pay by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
Frequently asked questions
- How much do conservation scientists make?
- The median wage for conservation scientists in the U.S. is $73,010 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,700 and $91,560.
- Which state pays conservation scientists the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median wage for this occupation at $99,400 a year.
- What is the job outlook for conservation scientists?
- BLS projects employment to grow 5.3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,100 openings each year on average.
- What education do conservation scientists need?
- The typical entry-level education is: bachelor's degree.