Soil Conservationists and Technicians
Overview
Introduction
Soil conservationists develop conservation plans to help farmers and ranchers, developers, homeowners, and government officials best use their land while adhering to government conservation regulations. They suggest plans to conserve and reclaim soil, preserve or restore wetlands and other rare ecological areas, rotate crops for increased yields and soil conservation, reduce water pollution, and restore or increase wildlife populations. They assess land users needs, costs, maintenance requirements, and the life expectancy of various...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
The Department of Labor reports that median earnings for conservation scientists (the category that includes soil conservationists) were $62,660 in May 2019. Some conservation scientists earned less than $39,270, while others earned $98,060 or more annually.
The salaries of conservationists and technicians working for private firms or agencies are roughly comparable to those paid by the ...
Work Environment
Soil conservationists and technicians usually work 40 hours per week except in unusual or emergency situations. They have opportunities to travel, especially when they work for federal agencies.
Soil conservation is an outdoor job. Workers travel to work sites by car but must often walk great distances to an assigned area. Although they sometimes work from aerial photographs and other on...
Outlook
Faster-than-average employment growth of 5 percent is expected for conservation scientists (a category that includes soil conservationists and technicians) through 2029, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Most jobs will come from the need to replace those who retire or leave the field for other reasons.
There will continue to be a need for government involvement in protecti...
