Conservation scientists and foresters manage the land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources.
Conservation scientists and foresters typically do the following:
Conservation 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.
Conservation scientists held about 24,600 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of conservation scientists were as follows:
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 31% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 22 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 19 |
| Social advocacy organizations | 14 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 5 |
Foresters held about 15,000 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of foresters were as follows:
| Support activities for agriculture and forestry | 29% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 21 |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 9 |
| Forestry and logging | 9 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 7 |
Conservation 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.
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.
Conservation scientists and foresters typically need a bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, or a related field.
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.
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.
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.
Median annual wages, May 2021
The median annual wage for conservation scientists was $63,750 in May 2021. 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 $38,670, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $100,440.
The median annual wage for foresters was $64,110 in May 2021. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $43,280, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $98,330.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for conservation scientists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Federal government, excluding postal service | $77,560 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 62,980 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 61,910 |
| Social advocacy organizations | 60,400 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 54,930 |
In May 2021, the median annual wages for foresters in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Federal government, excluding postal service | $67,660 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 64,010 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 63,400 |
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.
Percent change in employment, projected 2021-31
Overall employment of conservation scientists and foresters is projected to grow 5 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 3,800 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.
Projected employment of conservation scientists and foresters varies by occupation (see table).
Both changing weather conditions and the development of previously unused lands have contributed to increasingly devastating and costly fires. In recent years, prevention and suppression of wildfires have become the primary concern for managing forests and rangelands. With increasing numbers of forest fires and as more people live on or near forest lands, foresters and conservation scientists will be needed to mitigate growing humanitarian and environmental impacts of forest fires.
| Occupational Title | SOC Code | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | Employment by Industry | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | ||||||
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program |
|||||||
Conservation scientists and foresters |
19-1030 | 39,600 | 41,400 | 5 | 1,800 | Get data | |
Conservation scientists |
19-1031 | 24,600 | 25,300 | 3 | 700 | Get data | |
Foresters |
19-1032 | 15,000 | 16,100 | 7 | 1,100 | Get data | |
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
Society for Range Management (SRM)
For career videos on conservation scientists and foresters, visit