Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2016

19-1031 Conservation Scientists

Manage, improve, and protect natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment. May conduct soil surveys and develop plans to eliminate soil erosion or to protect rangelands. May instruct farmers, agricultural production managers, or ranchers in best ways to use crop rotation, contour plowing, or terracing to conserve soil and water; in the number and kind of livestock and forage plants best suited to particular ranges; and in range and farm improvements, such as fencing and reservoirs for stock watering. Excludes "Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists" (19-1023) and "Foresters" (19-1032).

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National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1)	Employment RSE (3)	Mean hourly wage	Mean annual wage (2)	Wage RSE (3)
20,470	1.9 %	$31.31	$65,130	0.8 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile	10%	25%	50% (Median)	75%	90%
Hourly Wage	$17.92	$22.60	$29.72	$37.56	$46.14
Annual Wage (2)	$37,270	$47,010	$61,810	$78,120	$95,970

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Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry	Employment (1)	Percent of industry employment	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage (2)
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	6,690	0.33	$36.81	$76,570
State Government (OES Designation)	4,620	0.21	$26.91	$55,980
Local Government (OES Designation)	4,400	0.08	$25.82	$53,700
Social Advocacy Organizations	2,430	1.18	$32.37	$67,320
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	670	0.02	$30.31	$63,040

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry	Employment (1)	Percent of industry employment	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage (2)
Social Advocacy Organizations	2,430	1.18	$32.37	$67,320
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	6,690	0.33	$36.81	$76,570
State Government (OES Designation)	4,620	0.21	$26.91	$55,980
Local Government (OES Designation)	4,400	0.08	$25.82	$53,700
Scientific Research and Development Services	420	0.06	$42.14	$87,650

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry	Employment (1)	Percent of industry employment	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage (2)
Scientific Research and Development Services	420	0.06	$42.14	$87,650
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	6,690	0.33	$36.81	$76,570
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	190	0.01	$33.00	$68,640
Social Advocacy Organizations	2,430	1.18	$32.37	$67,320
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	560	0.04	$32.04	$66,650

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Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State	Employment (1)	Employment per thousand jobs	Location quotient (9)	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage (2)
Texas	1,740	0.15	1.02	$27.45	$57,090
California	1,260	0.08	0.54	$36.69	$76,310
Colorado	1,170	0.46	3.19	$33.90	$70,510
Washington	920	0.30	2.07	$28.55	$59,380
Oregon	820	0.46	3.15	$35.91	$74,680

States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State	Employment (1)	Employment per thousand jobs	Location quotient (9)	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage (2)
Montana	530	1.16	7.98	$29.15	$60,640
South Dakota	290	0.69	4.71	$29.09	$60,510
Wyoming	180	0.64	4.37	$30.97	$64,410
North Dakota	260	0.62	4.22	$30.93	$64,340
Alaska	190	0.60	4.12	$43.70	$90,890

Top paying States for this occupation:

State	Employment (1)	Employment per thousand jobs	Location quotient (9)	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska	190	0.60	4.12	$43.70	$90,890
New Jersey	330	0.08	0.57	$41.37	$86,060
Connecticut	50	0.03	0.22	$38.17	$79,400
California	1,260	0.08	0.54	$36.69	$76,310
Hawaii	140	0.22	1.48	$36.18	$75,250

Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area	Employment (1)	Employment per thousand jobs	Location quotient (9)	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage (2)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division	740	0.30	2.04	$36.93	$76,820
Fort Collins, CO	500	3.30	22.66	$33.35	$69,370
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	480	0.42	2.88	$37.67	$78,360
Austin-Round Rock, TX	430	0.44	3.03	$27.84	$57,900
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	400	0.21	1.42	$31.60	$65,730
Baton Rouge, LA	340	0.86	5.89	$28.28	$58,810
Jackson, MS	320	1.21	8.28	$25.43	$52,890
Madison, WI	280	0.74	5.11	$31.44	$65,390
New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division	270	0.04	0.28	(8)	(8)
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	260	0.10	0.69	$30.43	$63,300

Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area	Employment (1)	Employment per thousand jobs	Location quotient (9)	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage (2)
Fort Collins, CO	500	3.30	22.66	$33.35	$69,370
Olympia-Tumwater, WA	220	2.12	14.52	$29.41	$61,170
Corvallis, OR	70	1.99	13.66	$41.01	$85,300
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	70	1.51	10.37	$23.97	$49,850
Missoula, MT	70	1.29	8.84	$32.73	$68,090
Logan, UT-ID	70	1.22	8.38	$28.24	$58,740
Jackson, MS	320	1.21	8.28	$25.43	$52,890
Flagstaff, AZ	70	1.06	7.29	$30.44	$63,320
Longview, WA	30	0.95	6.49	$23.27	$48,400
Baton Rouge, LA	340	0.86	5.89	$28.28	$58,810