Natural Resources Conservation: Now What?
Natural Resources Conservation…Now What?
2024 Median Pay: $69,060 per year/$33.20 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's Degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
On-the-job Training: None
Number of Jobs, 2023: 41,400
Job Outlook, 2023-33: 5% (As fast as average)
Employment Change, 2023-33: 1,900
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/conservation-scientists.htm
What Is Natural Resources Conservation?
As human populations increase and natural resources and habitats become more limited, there is a critical need for trained conservation professionals in natural resources conservation. Natural conservation scientists study the ecology of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and how these systems can best be managed to conserve biodiversity, protect ecosystem functions, and provide sustainable benefits to humans in society. Emerging priorities include pursuing conservation within working landscapes, rebuilding public support, working with the corporate sector, and paying better attention to human rights and equity.
Conservation scientists manage, improve, and protect the country's natural resources. They work closely with landowners, businesses, and federal, state, and local governments to devise ways to use and improve the land while safeguarding the environment.
What Can I Do with a Degree in Natural Resources Conservation?
Animal Nursery Worker
Arborists & Urban Foresters
Civil Engineering Technician
Community Organizer
Conservation Law Enforcement Officers –
Conservation Program Manager
Conservation Scientist
Conservation Technician
Elementary / High School Science Teacher
Environmental Educator
Environmental Lawyers
Environmental Science Technician
Environmental Specialist
Fish/Game Warden
Forest Firefighter
Forest/Wildlife Detective
Forestry Worker
Fundraiser
GIS/Mapping Technician
Land Planner
Landscape Architect
Naturalists and Environmental Educators
Outdoor Recreation Specialists
Park Managers and Rangers
Permit Coordinator
Plant Ecologist
Professional Foresters and Plant Ecologists
Public Relations Specialist
Real Estate Inspector
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Restoration Specialist
Science Writer
Soil Scientist
Systems Ecologist
Water and Land Use Planners
Water Resource Technician
Watershed Scientist
Wildlife and Fisheries Technicians
Wildlife Biologist
Wildlife Manager
Zoologist
Who Might I Work For?
About 70% of conservation scientists work for federal, state, or local governments.
County Soil and Water Conservations Districts
Environmental Consulting Firms
Forestry Companies
Green Builders
Land Brokers
Land Management Agencies
Land Surveying Firms
Lobbying Firms
Municipal Water Depts
National Forest Service
Natl Oceanographic & Atmospheric Admin
Parks Service (National, State, private)
Schools & Colleges
Social Advocacy Organizations
State/Local Govt Agencies
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
US Department of Energy (DOE)
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
US Fish & Wildlife
USDA Resource Conservation Service
Watershed District
Selection of Employers for Recent UMass Amherst Natural Resources Conservation Alumni:
- Connecticut River Conservancy
- Duxbury Beach Reservation
- Harvard Forest
- Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
- Mass Audubon
- Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
- Museum of Science Boston
- Nantucket Land Bank
- New England Aquarium
- New England Regional Center of Vector-Borne Diseases
- Sierra Institute for Community & Environment
- SWCA Environmental Consultants
Where Might I Do an Internship?
UMass Amherst Natural Resource Conservation Majors Have Done Internships at the Following Sites:
- Amherst (Town of)
- Association to Preserve Cape Cod
- Bay State Forestry Service
- Bioshelters Inc.
- Conservation Services Group, Inc. (CGS)
- Denali Lodges
- EDP Renewables
- Elephants Without Borders
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Flynn Associates
- Global Vision International
- Greenpeace, Inc.
- Hitchcock Center for the Environment
- MA Dept. of Environ. Mgmt.
- MA Division of Fisheries & Wildlife
- Mass Public Interest Research Group
- Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
- Smith Barney
- Southwick Conservation Commission
- Triumvirate Environmental
- Trustees of Reservations
- UMass Amherst Campus Sustainability Initiative
- UMass Amherst Nat Res Conservation Dept
- UMass Amherst Cold Spring Orchard
- US Army Corps of Engineers
- US District Court - District of Connecticut
- US Fish & Wildlife Service
- US Forest Service
- UTC Power
- World Wildlife Federation
Natural Resources Conservation Job and Internship Search Resources
Natural Resources Conservation Job Boards
- Handshake Database of Internships & Jobs
- Conservation Job Board
- Environmental Career Opportunities (ECO
- MyGISJobs.com
- Green Jobs Board
- Texas A&M Natural Resources Job Board
- Environmental Business Council of New England’s Career Center
- Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (Mass CEC)
- Massachusetts (State) Environmental Agencies
- USA Jobs (for ALL Federal Government Jobs)
Internships and Lab/Field Research in Natural Resources Conservation
- UMass Office of Undergraduate Research & Studies
- UMass PROPEL
- Student Conservation Association (SCA)
- Mass.gov Internships
- Internships in Federal Government Agencies
- National Park Service Internships (Nationwide)
Professional Organizations
Many professional organization’s websites have career information on them. You can often use them to search for networking events, meet a mentor in your field of study, find current research, search for internships or jobs, and gain insight into what direction within the field you may wish to pursue.
What Do Employers Look For? (NACE 2026 Job Outlook for Students)
Top 10 Skills Employers Seek on a Candidate’s Resume:
- Teamwork
- Problem-Solving
- Communication (verbal)
- Technical Skills
- Communication (written)
- Work Ethic
- Analytical/Quantitative Skills
- Initiative
- Leadership Potential
- Detail-Oriented