Jobs Similar to Conservation Scientists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to conservation scientists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Environmental Restoration Planners and Soil and Plant Scientists.
Conservation Scientists: $73,010 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Conservation Scientists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 83% | $82,220+13% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Environmental Restoration Planners | 83% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Soil and Plant ScientistsSame group | 83% | $78,850+8% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsSame group | 82% | $76,780+5% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Range ManagersSame group | 81% | $73,010Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Water Resource Specialists | 80% | $167,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | ForestersSame group | 80% | $76,400+5% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Environmental Engineers | 79% | $107,110+47% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | 79% | $55,090−25% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 79% | $101,920+40% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 79% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Animal ScientistsSame group | 78% | $68,940−6% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Hydrologists | 78% | $96,600+32% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Industrial Ecologists | 77% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 77% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | 77% | $115,160+58% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Atmospheric and Space Scientists | 77% | $99,070+36% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | BiologistsSame group | 76% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Food Scientists and TechnologistsSame group | 76% | $88,720+22% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | MicrobiologistsSame group | 76% | $87,990+21% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
83% similar · $82,220 (+13%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Environmental Restoration Planners
83% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 3Soil and Plant Scientists
83% similar · $78,850 (+8%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
82% similar · $76,780 (+5%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Range Managers
81% similar · $73,010 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Water Resource Specialists
80% similar · $167,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Foresters
80% similar · $76,400 (+5%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 8Environmental Engineers
79% similar · $107,110 (+47%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
79% similar · $55,090 (−25%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
79% similar · $101,920 (+40%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
79% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Animal Scientists
78% similar · $68,940 (−6%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Hydrologists
78% similar · $96,600 (+32%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Industrial Ecologists
77% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 15Environmental Compliance Inspectors
77% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
77% similar · $115,160 (+58%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Atmospheric and Space Scientists
77% similar · $99,070 (+36%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Biologists
76% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 19Food Scientists and Technologists
76% similar · $88,720 (+22%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Microbiologists
76% similar · $87,990 (+21%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than conservation scientists.
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors77% similar · $115,160 (+58%)
- Environmental Engineers79% similar · $107,110 (+47%)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers79% similar · $101,920 (+40%)
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists77% similar · $99,070 (+36%)
- Hydrologists78% similar · $96,600 (+32%)
- Food Scientists and Technologists76% similar · $88,720 (+22%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for conservation scientists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where conservation scientists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (93)
- Environmental Restoration Planners (90)
- Water Resource Specialists (90)
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (89)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (86)
- Industrial Ecologists (84)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (81)
- Water/Wastewater Engineers (80)
- Hydrologists (79)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (78)
Questions about jobs like conservation scientists
What jobs are most similar to conservation scientists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Environmental Scientists and Specialists (83% similar), Environmental Restoration Planners (83% similar), Soil and Plant Scientists (83% similar), Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (82% similar) and Range Managers (81% similar).
Which jobs like conservation scientists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Health and Safety Engineers ($115,160, +58%; usually a bachelor's degree), Environmental Engineers ($107,110, +47%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers) ($101,920, +40%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with conservation scientists ($73,010). Without more preparation than conservation scientists usually need: Health and Safety Engineers, Environmental Engineers and Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.