Studying and protecting wild ecosystems on land—forests, prairies, wetlands, and the animals and plants that live there.
Top pay: highest pay, longest training
Conservation Program Director: Leads conservation projects for nonprofits or agencies—deciding which land to protect and how. Typical pay $115k.
Mitigation Banker: Restores wetlands and habitats and sells "credits" to developers who must offset damage elsewhere. Typical pay $115k.
Biodiversity Data Scientist: Uses big data, satellites, and AI to map and track the world's species. Typical pay $110k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Ecologist: Studies how plants, animals, and their environment interact—and how ecosystems respond to change. Typical pay $76k.
Wildlife Biologist: Studies wild animals and their habitats to manage and protect populations. Typical pay $73k.
Conservation Scientist: Manages land and natural resources—forests, rangelands, parks—so they stay healthy. Typical pay $90k.
Restoration Ecologist: Brings damaged land back to life—replanting wetlands, removing dams, restoring prairies. Typical pay $72k.
Quantitative Ecologist: Builds statistical and computer models to predict how animal and plant populations will change. Typical pay $98k.
Ecology / Biology Professor: Teaches college biology and runs a research lab studying ecology or evolution. Typical pay $90k.
Environmental Consulting Biologist: Surveys land for protected plants and animals before construction projects can be approved. Typical pay $70k.
Wetland Scientist: Identifies and maps wetlands so they're protected from being filled in or built on. Typical pay $72k.
Endangered Species Recovery Biologist: Works for agencies like the US Fish & Wildlife Service to bring endangered species back from the brink. Typical pay $85k.
Fire Ecologist: Studies how wildfires shape forests and helps plan controlled 'good fires' to prevent disasters. Typical pay $78k.
Invasive Species Specialist: Finds and fights invading plants and animals—like pythons in Florida or zebra mussels in lakes. Typical pay $60k.
Bioacoustics Specialist: Records and analyzes animal sounds—bird songs, bat calls, whale songs—to track wildlife. Typical pay $70k.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) Scientist: Detects which species live in a place from tiny traces of DNA in water, soil, or air. Typical pay $78k.
Landscape Ecologist: Studies how patterns of forests, fields, cities, and rivers affect wildlife and ecosystems. Typical pay $78k.
Urban Ecologist: Studies nature in cities: urban wildlife, street trees, green roofs, and heat islands. Typical pay $75k.
Forest Ecologist: Studies how forests grow, burn, recover, and respond to climate change. Typical pay $78k.
Wildlife Technician: Assists wildlife biologists with surveys, habitat work, and animal handling. Typical pay $42k.
Avian Field Technician (Bird Bander): Catches wild birds in fine nets, fits them with tiny leg bands, and releases them to track migration. Typical pay $38k.
Park Naturalist: Teaches visitors about nature at parks, nature centers, and preserves. Typical pay $44k.
Biological Monitor: Watches construction sites to protect endangered wildlife. Typical pay $52k.
Native Seed Collector: Gathers seeds from wild native plants for habitat restoration and seed banks. Typical pay $38k.
Cowbird Control Technician: Traps brown-headed cowbirds, which lay eggs in other birds' nests, to protect endangered songbirds like the Kirtland's warbler and black-capped vireo. Typical pay $36k.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.