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.
25,950 people do this job in the US. $73,010 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 70%
- 3%
- 27%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 11%. Today's estimate: 19%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 30 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.Done daily by most who do it. | 16% | 3.3 h1.7 h to 1.3 work days | 38%Half by Nov 2026 | |
| Develop or conduct environmental studies, such as plant material field trials or wildlife habitat impact studies.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 12% | 2.1 work weeks4.2 work days to 1.2 work months | Stays with people | |
| Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 10% | 6.7 h2.5 h to 2.5 work days | 9%Half by Jul 2027 | |
| Implement soil or water management techniques, such as nutrient management, erosion control, buffers, or filter strips, in accordance with conservation plans.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 8% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | Stays with people | |
| Manage field offices or involve staff in cooperative ventures.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 6% | 5 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | 17%Half by Apr 2027 | |
| Compile or interpret biodata to determine extent or type of wetlands or to aid in program formulation.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 4% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Coordinate or implement technical, financial, or administrative assistance programs for local government units to ensure efficient program implementation or timely responses to requests for assistance.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 4% | 5 h1.7 h to 2.1 work days | 15%Half by Jun 2027 | |
| Compute design specifications for implementation of conservation practices, using survey or field information, technical guides or engineering manuals.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 4% | 4.2 h1.7 h to 1.3 work days | 27%Half by Jan 2027 | |
| Develop water conservation or harvest plans, using weather information systems, irrigation information management systems, or other sources of daily evapotranspiration (ET) data.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 3% | 2.1 work days6.7 h to 1.3 work weeks | 1%Half by Mar 2028 | |
| Develop, conduct, or participate in surveys, studies, or investigations of various land uses to inform corrective action plans.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 3% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 1 work week | Stays with people | |
| Analyze results of investigations to determine measures needed to maintain or restore proper soil management.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 3% | 4.2 h1.7 h to 1.3 work days | 27%Half by Jan 2027 | |
| Advise land users, such as farmers or ranchers, on plans, problems, or alternative conservation solutions.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 3% | 1.7 h50 min to 5 h | Stays with people |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).