Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
Natural Resources & Conservation
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $53,620 | $50,173 to $65,604 | 29 | 97% |
| Master's Degree | $68,624 | $60,262 to $75,770 | 18 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +4% (2025 to 2035), about 302,200 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $141,900 | +4.9% | 100,900 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,210 | +3.5% | 51,500 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,580 | +5.5% | 45,400 |
| Compliance Officers | $80,730 | +3.8% | 32,700 |
| Firefighters | $59,280 | +3.7% | 26,800 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $106,040 | +3.3% | 10,600 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a environmental/natural resources management and policy program, of 139 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- Oregon State University
- University of Denver
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Colorado State University-Fort Collins
- University of Miami
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
- American Public University System
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.