Natural Resources and Conservation
Natural Resources & Conservation · federal classification: Natural Resources Conservation and Research
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $48,824 | $35,574 to $59,667 | 6 | 67% |
| Associate's Degree | $44,513 | $35,240 to $50,338 | 6 | 67% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $54,099 | $48,236 to $59,584 | 295 | 94% |
| Master's Degree | $69,998 | $59,438 to $78,392 | 68 | 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 +3% (2024 to 2034), about 55,700 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compliance Officers | $78,420 | +3% | 33,300 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $80,060 | +4.4% | 8,500 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $49,490 | +4% | 5,600 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $54,310 | -3.2% | 3,900 |
| Conservation Scientists | $67,950 | +3.4% | 2,500 |
| Foresters | $70,660 | +1.2% | 1,100 |
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.
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.