Environmental Conservation Careers

here are environmental conservation careers working in academia, for a non-profit organization, or in environmental consulting that are professional office positions, and there are also careers such as forestry and federal positions that are largely outdoors and may consist of physical labor. A wide range of opportunities exist for the work environment and specialty that one seeking a career in environmental conservation may be interested in.

Conservation Scientist

A conservation scientist manages, observes, and attempts to restore or save natural resources including the development of forests and rangelands. A conservation scientist may work with an individual, a farmer, or the federal and state government. Mostly these positions are held by government employees, with 74 percent working for government including agencies like the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service and similar state departments. Most hold a bachelor's degree in in forestry, biology, natural resource management or environmental sciences. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage of a conservation scientist as of May 2008 was $58,720.

Teaching

Those who teach courses on forestry and conservation science may be retired or currently working as conservation scientists. These courses, typically taught at the university or college level, are in environmental and conservation science and may be into addition to research that the professor is conducting. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2009 the median yearly salary for a teacher in a university, college, or professional school was $76,500, with the highest concentration of the profession being in Pennsylvania.

Forest workers

Forest workers complete much of the physical work rather than analyzing or preparing data on environmental concerns. Typical duties of a forest worker include planting seedlings to reforest areas, removing diseased trees and spraying insecticides and fungicides. Often forest workers are employment by local or the federal government, although they may be employed by tree farmers or nurseries. A high school diploma is typically sufficient to obtain work as a forest worker, but many community and vocational schools offer degrees in forest management technology, wildlife management, conservation, and forest harvesting, which may help an individual advance in his career.

Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition: Conservation Scientists and Foresters
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2009: 25-1043 Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Forest and Conservation Workers
UW-Milwaukee: Conservation and Enviornmental Sciences Programs