Headline risk
37%
High RiskConservation scientists
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
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.
Task evidence
98% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 67,950
Employment 2024
28.5K
Projected Change (2024–34)
3.4%
Openings (2024–34)
2.5K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Overall employment of conservation scientists and foresters is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Provide visitor services, such as explaining regulations, answering visitor requests, needs and complaints, and providing information about the park and surrounding areas. AI use: 0%
- 2. Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives. AI use: 0%
- 3. Assist with operations of general facilities, such as visitor centers. AI use: 0%
- 4. Gather information from geographic information systems (GIS) databases or applications to formulate land use recommendations. AI use: 0%
- 5. Implement soil or water management techniques, such as nutrient management, erosion control, buffers, or filter strips, in accordance with conservation plans. AI use: 0%
- 6. Participate on work teams to plan, develop, or implement programs or policies for improving environmental habitats, wetlands, or groundwater or soil resources. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 41.2 · 102K employed
Under 25: 1% · 25–54: 77% · 55+: 23%
Related
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
title_match · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Conservation scientists and foresters manage the land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources.
Conservation scientists and foresters work for federal, state, and local governments; on privately owned lands; or in social advocacy organizations. Most conservation scientists and foresters work full time, and schedules may vary.
Conservation scientists and foresters typically need a bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, or a related field.
The median annual wage for conservation scientists was $67,950 in May 2024.
Overall employment of conservation scientists and foresters is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.