Occupations/19-1031.00
Conservation Scientists
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.
Usually a four-year bachelor’s degree.
AI automation risk
39%
Mixed exposure
Human characteristics
53%
Balanced human and task mix
Task orientation
32%
More resilient
A day in this job
- Mostly human
Advise land users, such as farmers or ranchers, on plans, problems, or alternative conservation solutions.
- Mostly routine
Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.
- Task
Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.
Split from the wording of these tasks, shown next to the occupation’s AI risk. It is not a separate score for each task, and it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.
- 02Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water.
- 03Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.
- 04Advise land users, such as farmers or ranchers, on plans, problems, or alternative conservation solutions.
- 05Implement soil or water management techniques, such as nutrient management, erosion control, buffers, or filter strips, in accordance with conservation plans.
- 06Compute design specifications for implementation of conservation practices, using survey or field information, technical guides or engineering manuals.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.04
- Degree of automation2.09
- Time sitting3.17
- Originality (ability)3.25
- Conflict situations2.13
- Hands-on objects/tools2.61
- Outdoors / weather3.87
- Disease exposure1.17
- Decision freedom4.09
Top abilities
- Oral Comprehension4.12
- Written Comprehension4.00
- Oral Expression3.88
- Problem Sensitivity3.75
- Information Ordering3.75
- Deductive Reasoning3.75
- Written Expression3.62
- Speech Clarity3.50
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.88
- Active Listening3.88
- Writing3.50
- Speaking3.62
- Mathematics3.12
- Science3.50
- Critical Thinking3.50
- Active Learning3.25
- Learning Strategies2.88
- Monitoring3.25
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 79 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit | Natural Resources/Conservation, General 03.0101 | $60,100 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr $66,536 2 yr $53,168 Master's · CIP 03.01 |
Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY · Private nonprofit | Natural Resources/Conservation, General 03.0101 | $68,200 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr $59,288 2 yr $56,776 Master's · CIP 03.01 |
The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX · Public | Natural Resources/Conservation, General 03.0101 | $14,600 | 65% | 73% | 1 yr $57,318 2 yr $48,432 Master's · CIP 03.01 |
University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND · Public | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture 01.0308 | $10,800 | 83% | 66% | 1 yr $52,789 2 yr $56,415 Bachelor's · CIP 01.03 |
San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public | Natural Resources/Conservation, General 03.0101 | $8,200 | 77% | 71% | 1 yr $51,607 2 yr $48,041 Bachelor's · CIP 03.01 |
Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · Public | Ecology 26.1301 | $5,200 | 100% | 21% | 1 yr $49,527 2 yr $50,105 Professional · CIP 26.13 |
Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN · Public | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture 01.0308 | $10,000 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $46,087 2 yr $43,426 Bachelor's · CIP 01.03 |
Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN · Public | Natural Resources/Conservation, General 03.0101 | $9,700 | 71% | 62% | 1 yr $45,500 2 yr $43,798 Bachelor's · CIP 03.01 |
University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA · Public | Natural Resources/Conservation, General 03.0101 | $15,200 | 24% | 87% | 1 yr $44,737 2 yr $41,565 Bachelor's · CIP 03.01 |
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA · Public | Range Science and Management 01.1106 | $19,600 | 55% | 86% | 1 yr $44,170 2 yr $44,091 Bachelor's · CIP 01.11 |
St Cloud State University St. Cloud, MN · Public | Natural Resources/Conservation, General 03.0101 | $9,600 | 95% | 56% | 1 yr $42,682 2 yr $33,565 Bachelor's · CIP 03.01 |
Houston Community College Houston, TX · Public | Natural Resources/Conservation, General 03.0101 | $4,300 | 100% | 24% | 1 yr $42,682 2 yr $36,848 Bachelor's · CIP 03.01 |