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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

19-1031 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. Excludes “Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists” (19-1023) and “Foresters” (19-1032).


National estimates for Conservation Scientists
Industry profile for Conservation Scientists
Geographic profile for Conservation Scientists

National estimates for Conservation Scientists:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Conservation Scientists:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
22,880 1.3 % $ 33.56 $ 69,810 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for Conservation Scientists:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 19.88 $ 24.15 $ 30.99 $ 39.79 $ 49.36
Annual Wage (2) $ 41,360 $ 50,230 $ 64,460 $ 82,750 $ 102,670


Industry profile for Conservation Scientists:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Conservation Scientists are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Conservation Scientists, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Conservation Scientists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 7,100 0.34 $ 39.29 $ 81,710
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 5,210 0.25 $ 29.39 $ 61,120
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 4,360 0.08 $ 29.16 $ 60,660
Social Advocacy Organizations 3,190 1.34 $ 30.35 $ 63,130
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 680 0.02 $ 34.45 $ 71,650

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Conservation Scientists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Social Advocacy Organizations 3,190 1.34 $ 30.35 $ 63,130
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 7,100 0.34 $ 39.29 $ 81,710
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 5,210 0.25 $ 29.39 $ 61,120
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions 180 0.12 $ 27.18 $ 56,530
Natural Gas Distribution 90 0.08 $ 48.95 $ 101,810

Top paying industries for Conservation Scientists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Natural Gas Distribution 90 0.08 $ 48.95 $ 101,810
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 470 0.03 $ 47.19 $ 98,160
Employment Services 130 (7) $ 39.30 $ 81,740
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 7,100 0.34 $ 39.29 $ 81,710
Scientific Research and Development Services 420 0.05 $ 37.91 $ 78,850


Geographic profile for Conservation Scientists:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Conservation Scientists are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Conservation Scientists, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of conservation scientists by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Conservation Scientists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 1,890 0.15 0.94 $ 29.02 $ 60,370
California 1,580 0.09 0.58 $ 39.56 $ 82,280
Colorado 1,390 0.50 3.26 $ 35.94 $ 74,760
Mississippi 1,010 0.89 5.78 $ 26.90 $ 55,940
Pennsylvania 990 0.17 1.10 $ 28.47 $ 59,230


Map of location quotient of conservation scientists by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Conservation Scientists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Montana 590 1.20 7.76 $ 29.70 $ 61,780
Alaska 300 0.97 6.28 $ 39.43 $ 82,020
South Dakota 410 0.95 6.12 $ 29.81 $ 61,990
Mississippi 1,010 0.89 5.78 $ 26.90 $ 55,940
North Dakota 280 0.68 4.43 $ 33.08 $ 68,810


Map of annual mean wages of conservation scientists by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Conservation Scientists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 60 0.09 0.58 $ 46.20 $ 96,100
Hawaii 130 0.21 1.36 $ 44.14 $ 91,800
Maryland 290 0.11 0.71 $ 44.02 $ 91,560
Minnesota 630 0.22 1.44 $ 43.37 $ 90,200
Nevada 100 0.07 0.48 $ 40.62 $ 84,490



Map of employment of conservation scientists by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Conservation Scientists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Jackson, MS 650 2.63 16.97 $ 26.33 $ 54,760
Fort Collins, CO 630 3.70 23.90 $ 37.67 $ 78,340
Austin-Round Rock, TX 430 0.37 2.37 $ 28.49 $ 59,260
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 410 0.14 0.88 $ 45.28 $ 94,170
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 380 0.04 0.27 $ 35.33 $ 73,480
Baton Rouge, LA 360 0.95 6.11 $ 31.48 $ 65,490
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 350 0.30 1.92 $ 41.05 $ 85,380
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 340 0.08 0.50 $ 33.11 $ 68,880
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 340 0.12 0.78 $ 29.28 $ 60,900
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 330 0.22 1.39 $ 35.69 $ 74,240


Map of location quotient of conservation scientists by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Conservation Scientists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Fort Collins, CO 630 3.70 23.90 $ 37.67 $ 78,340
Jackson, MS 650 2.63 16.97 $ 26.33 $ 54,760
Missoula, MT 140 2.19 14.14 $ 28.72 $ 59,730
Olympia-Tumwater, WA 220 1.83 11.81 $ 36.51 $ 75,950
Fairbanks, AK 60 1.64 10.63 $ 39.32 $ 81,790
Corvallis, OR 50 1.33 8.61 $ 44.34 $ 92,230
Anchorage, AK 170 1.00 6.44 $ 39.46 $ 82,070
Baton Rouge, LA 360 0.95 6.11 $ 31.48 $ 65,490
Rapid City, SD 50 0.72 4.67 $ 28.41 $ 59,090
Madison, WI 240 0.62 3.99 $ 34.78 $ 72,340


Map of annual mean wages of conservation scientists by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Conservation Scientists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 280 0.15 0.96 $ 55.09 $ 114,590
Springfield, MA-CT 60 0.19 1.22 $ 50.85 $ 105,760
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 40 0.03 0.21 $ 48.69 $ 101,260
Urban Honolulu, HI 70 0.16 1.04 $ 48.26 $ 100,390
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 160 0.16 1.01 $ 45.53 $ 94,700
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 410 0.14 0.88 $ 45.28 $ 94,170
Trenton, NJ 40 0.19 1.20 $ 44.61 $ 92,790
Corvallis, OR 50 1.33 8.61 $ 44.34 $ 92,230
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 220 0.09 0.59 $ 43.97 $ 91,450
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA 30 0.34 2.18 $ 43.89 $ 91,290

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Conservation Scientists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 210 1.47 9.48 $ 29.12 $ 60,580
East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 180 1.38 8.90 $ 29.39 $ 61,140
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 180 0.46 3.00 $ 26.78 $ 55,690
Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 160 0.79 5.13 $ 30.74 $ 63,950
West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 150 2.44 15.76 $ 31.06 $ 64,610

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Conservation Scientists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 150 2.44 15.76 $ 31.06 $ 64,610
East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area 140 2.27 14.64 $ 31.72 $ 65,970
East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 110 1.78 11.49 $ 33.18 $ 69,010
Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 80 1.59 10.25 $ 31.36 $ 65,240
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 210 1.47 9.48 $ 29.12 $ 60,580

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Conservation Scientists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 70 0.70 4.56 $ 40.16 $ 83,530
Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area 30 0.31 1.98 $ 39.57 $ 82,310
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area 40 0.45 2.91 $ 39.24 $ 81,620
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 37.90 $ 78,830
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area 100 0.97 6.25 $ 37.78 $ 78,570


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023