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Boston Career Explorer

Life, Physical, and Social Science

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.

Also called: Conservationist, Environmental Analyst, Environmental Quality Scientist, Erosion Control Specialist, Land Reclamation Specialist, Land Resource Specialist

Median pay in Greater Boston
$78,580
$37.78/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
480
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+9.7%
70 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$51,070$62,880$78,580$89,690$111,700

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.
  • Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water.
  • Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.
  • Advise land users, such as farmers or ranchers, on plans, problems, or alternative conservation solutions.
  • Implement soil or water management techniques, such as nutrient management, erosion control, buffers, or filter strips, in accordance with conservation plans.
  • Compute design specifications for implementation of conservation practices, using survey or field information, technical guides or engineering manuals.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure58 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 48
  • Language-model AIOE 49
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 77

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is moderate, but observed AI use is little or none so far. AI tools may help with planning and with reviewing soil or land data. Work in the field, such as monitoring projects and putting conservation methods in place, and advising farmers and ranchers rely on people.

Likely to change

  • Drafting conservation and soil management plans
  • Reviewing soil and land data

Still relies on people

  • Monitoring projects on site
  • Advising farmers and ranchers face to face

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

14 programs near Boston (plus 6 graduate)

Related occupations

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