Also called: Land Steward, Preserve Manager, Stewardship Technician
Takes care of nature preserves by removing invasive plants, running prescribed burns, and maintaining trails.
A land steward might spend Monday cutting buckthorn with a chainsaw crew, Tuesday leading volunteers on a seed collection, and Wednesday on a prescribed burn in a prairie. Most work for land trusts and The Nature Conservancy.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in ecology, natural resources, or environmental science (some start with an associate).
Ways in: 4-year college, 2-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Ecology, Natural Resources, Environmental Science.
Shrinking (about -2% over 10 years). BLS 2025-35 projection band for SOC 19-4071: Decline (-1% or lower).
Low risk for 10 years. Little to automate; pulling invasives, running burns and fixing trails stay hands-on.
Classes: Biology, Earth science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-4071.
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