Natural Resources Degree & Career Guide

It takes passion, commitment, excellent communication skills, and education to pursue natural resources and conservation jobs. Students must prepare to study a broad variety of scientific disciplines, including biology, chemistry, and geology. Math and data science are a vital part of many environmental studies careers as well.

Environmental scientists and specialists may also monitor environmental conditions and gather data. Fieldwork happens in all types of weather and can be stressful and physically demanding. These professionals often must travel and may need to present research at conferences.

A natural resources and conservation degree is worth it for people who care about sustainable practices and improving environmental impact. People can pursue diverse roles in conservation, from administration to science and education. These careers also often pay well and offer many growth opportunities.

Many students pursue an online degree while they gain work experience. Degree-seekers should note that a bachelor of science (BS) focuses on scientific and quantitative aspects of environmental conservation. A bachelor of arts (BA) focuses on how humans interact with the environment historically and how public policy affects environmental challenges.

A BS in environmental science prepares graduates for many STEM careers, such as environmental scientists or engineers. These graduates can also become environmental health and safety specialists. Ecosystem science and sustainability professionals investigate natural and human-made environmental conditions. They also help address environmental challenges.

Graduates who want to get hands-on work experience could work in wildlife and conservation, combining fieldwork, lab research, and technology. Geoscience focuses on studying the Earth’s composition, structure, atmosphere, oceans, and rivers and how it all interconnects and interacts. Conservation scientists are consultants who work with private landowners, businesses, and governments to ensure sustainability practices.

Depending on your career path, you can earn from $35,000 to over $100,000 per year in natural resources and conservation careers. In May 2021, the BLS reported environmental scientists and specialists made a median annual wage of $76,530.

Conservation scientists and foresters earned a median annual wage of $63,750 in May 2021. The lowest 10% of conservation scientists made $38,670, and the highest 10% earned over $100,440 per year. Geoscientists made some of the highest-paying conservation careers in May 2021, with median annual wages ranging from $48,880 to over $172,490.