Career Options for Individuals with a Degree in Natural Resources Conservation
Career News February 15, 2016The degree program is mainly offered at an undergraduate level, with studies majoring in both mathematics and Natural sciences. To get details about the program’s job outlook, salaries for graduates in this profession as well as other essential details, read this article.
Individuals with a Degree in Natural Resources Conservation
Like most degree programs related to natural sciences studies, studies in this program focus on areas such as animal biology, ecology, chemistry and statistics. In addition, topics learned may also include forestry techniques, resource management, global environmental issues and wildlife habitats.
| Career | Forester | Range Manager |
| Education details | Bachelor’s degree | Bachelor’s degree |
| Estimated job growth rate | 7% | -2% |
| Average salary in 2012 | $60,360 | $68,050 |
Career Options for those with a Natural Resources Conservation Degree
A degree program in Natural sciences usually leads to a job in forestry or environmental conservatism. However, most programs allow students to specialize in several sectors related to natural sciences in order to widen their career options after graduation. Some of these options are ecology and land management, watershed management, wildlife conservation and park management, among others. If you would like to work in the conservation sub-fields, note that jobs are mainly found outdoors and your work may involve working in extremely remote areas.
Forester
Generally, foresters are employed by the government or its forestry related agencies. They work alongside other government officials and landowners in an effort to conserve government owned forests. Some of the activities involved in these careers include planting trees, monitoring and deciding which trees to be cut, and putting measures to prevent forest fire damages. Sometimes, foresters may also make recommendations to people who own huge pieces of land on how to turn them into investment areas.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a forester earned an average annual salary of $60,360 as of May 2012 while the job growth rate in this field is expected to remain at seven percent up to the year 2022. The BLS also noted that foresters who worked in Illinois, California, New Jersey, Connecticut and Alaska earned higher than average salaries.
Range Manager
Range managers are responsible for conserving various types of natural resources and ecosystems. A range manager may specialize in conserving water, soil, animals, precious metals and minerals or may choose to be a general natural resource manager. Their work involves moving across various range lands to collect and obtain geographical data from the natural resources, observe, test and make recommendations on how to make use of the resources without destroying them. In most cases, range managers also make recommendations on how to conserve natural resources by use of rebuilding techniques.
Range mangers are usually classified as a branch of the extensive field of conservation scientists. In 2012, the BLS estimated that a range manager earned an average annual salary of $68,050 while the job growth rate is expected to decrease by two percent. Finally, the BLS noted that during the same year (2012), range managers who worked in Alaska, California, District of Columbia, Connecticut and New Hampshire earned a relatively higher pay.
