Conservation Scientists
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 19-1031.00
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.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
High· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.38
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only30 rated tasks · 26 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (86.7%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Tasks of O*NET-SOC 2010 occupation 19-1031.01 Soil and Water Conservationists, linked to this occupation by the O*NET-SOC 2010 to 2019 crosswalk
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % |
|---|---|
Identify or recommend integrated weed and pest management (IPM) strategies, such as resistant plants, cultural or behavioral controls, soil amendments, insects, natural enemies, barriers, or pesticides.19-1031.01 | 0.011875.0 |
Review grant applications or make funding recommendations.19-1031.01 | 0.002213.8 |
Advise land users, such as farmers or ranchers, on plans, problems, or alternative conservation solutions.19-1031.01 | 0.001811.2 |
| Not observed on any surface — 30 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states. | |
Develop or maintain working relationships with local government staff or board members. | —0 |
Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives. | —0 |
Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications. | —0 |
Revisit land users to view implemented land use practices or plans. | —0 |
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. | —0 |
Analyze results of investigations to determine measures needed to maintain or restore proper soil management. | —0 |
Compute cost estimates of different conservation practices, based on needs of land users, maintenance requirements, or life expectancy of practices. | —0 |
Provide information, knowledge, expertise, or training to government agencies at all levels to solve water or soil management problems or to assure coordination of resource protection activities. | —0 |
Respond to complaints or questions on wetland jurisdiction, providing information or clarification. | —0 |
Review proposed wetland restoration easements or provide technical recommendations. | —0 |
Conduct fact-finding or mediation sessions among government units, landowners, or other agencies to resolve disputes. | —0 |
Implement soil or water management techniques, such as nutrient management, erosion control, buffers, or filter strips, in accordance with conservation plans. | —0 |
Compute design specifications for implementation of conservation practices, using survey or field information technical guides or engineering manuals. | —0 |
Gather information from geographic information systems (GIS) databases or applications to formulate land use recommendations. | —0 |
Visit areas affected by erosion problems to identify causes or determine solutions. | —0 |
Develop, conduct, or participate in surveys, studies, or investigations of various land uses to inform corrective action plans. | —0 |
Participate on work teams to plan, develop, or implement programs or policies for improving environmental habitats, wetlands, or groundwater or soil resources. | —0 |
Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water. | —0 |
Survey property to mark locations or measurements, using surveying instruments. | —0 |
Initiate, schedule, or conduct annual audits or compliance checks of program implementation by local government. | —0 |
Manage field offices or involve staff in cooperative ventures. | —0 |
Review or approve amendments to comprehensive local water plans or conservation district plans. | —0 |
Review annual reports of counties, conservation districts, or watershed management organizations, certifying compliance with mandated reporting requirements. | —0 |
Provide access to programs or training to assist in completion of government groundwater protection plans. | —0 |
Calculate or compare efficiencies associated with changing from low-precision irrigation technologies, such as furrow irrigation, to high-precision technologies, such as computer-controlled systems. | —0 |
Enter local soil, water, or other environmental data into adaptive or web-based decision tools to identify appropriate analyses or techniques. | —0 |
Evaluate or recommend geographic information systems (GIS) applications to address issues such as surface water quality, groundwater quality, ecological risk assessments, air quality, or environmental contamination. | —0 |
Compile or interpret biodata to determine extent or type of wetlands or to aid in program formulation. | —0 |
Develop water conservation or harvest plans, using weather information systems, irrigation information management systems, or other sources of daily evapotranspiration (ET) data. | —0 |
Develop or conduct environmental studies, such as plant material field trials or wildlife habitat impact studies. | —0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Advise land users, such as farmers or ranchers, on plans, problems, or alternative conservation solutions.O*NET Task ID 22134 | 0.5 |
Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.O*NET Task ID 22135 | 0.5 |
Visit areas affected by erosion problems to identify causes or determine solutions.O*NET Task ID 22136 | 0.5 |
Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.O*NET Task ID 22138 | 0.5 |
Gather information from geographic information systems (GIS) databases or applications to formulate land use recommendations.O*NET Task ID 22139 | 0.5 |
Compute design specifications for implementation of conservation practices, using survey or field information, technical guides or engineering manuals.O*NET Task ID 22140 | 0.5 |
Participate on work teams to plan, develop, or implement programs or policies for improving environmental habitats, wetlands, or groundwater or soil resources.O*NET Task ID 22141 | 0.5 |
Conduct fact-finding or mediation sessions among government units, landowners, or other agencies to resolve disputes.O*NET Task ID 22142 | 0.5 |
Respond to complaints or questions on wetland jurisdiction, providing information or clarification.O*NET Task ID 22144 | 0.5 |
Compute cost estimates of different conservation practices, based on needs of land users, maintenance requirements, or life expectancy of practices.O*NET Task ID 22145 | 0.5 |
Provide information, knowledge, expertise, or training to government agencies at all levels to solve water or soil management problems or to assure coordination of resource protection activities.O*NET Task ID 22146 | 0.5 |
Analyze results of investigations to determine measures needed to maintain or restore proper soil management.O*NET Task ID 22147 | 0.5 |
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.O*NET Task ID 22148 | 0.5 |
Identify or recommend integrated weed and pest management (IPM) strategies, such as resistant plants, cultural or behavioral controls, soil amendments, insects, natural enemies, barriers, or pesticides.O*NET Task ID 22149 | 0.5 |
Review proposed wetland restoration easements or provide technical recommendations.O*NET Task ID 22150 | 0.5 |
Develop, conduct, or participate in surveys, studies, or investigations of various land uses to inform corrective action plans.O*NET Task ID 22151 | 0.5 |
Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water.O*NET Task ID 22153 | 0.5 |
Initiate, schedule, or conduct annual audits or compliance checks of program implementation by local government.O*NET Task ID 22154 | 0.5 |
Develop water conservation or harvest plans, using weather information systems, irrigation information management systems, or other sources of daily evapotranspiration (ET) data.O*NET Task ID 22155 | 0.5 |
Review or approve amendments to comprehensive local water plans or conservation district plans.O*NET Task ID 22156 | 0.5 |
Develop or conduct environmental studies, such as plant material field trials or wildlife habitat impact studies.O*NET Task ID 22157 | 0.5 |
Enter local soil, water, or other environmental data into adaptive or Web-based decision tools to identify appropriate analyses or techniques.O*NET Task ID 22158 | 0.5 |
Compile or interpret biodata to determine extent or type of wetlands or to aid in program formulation.O*NET Task ID 22159 | 0.5 |
Review annual reports of counties, conservation districts, or watershed management organizations, certifying compliance with mandated reporting requirements.O*NET Task ID 22160 | 0.5 |
Review grant applications or make funding recommendations.O*NET Task ID 22161 | 0.5 |
Develop soil maps.O*NET Task ID 22162 | 0.5 |
Implement soil or water management techniques, such as nutrient management, erosion control, buffers, or filter strips, in accordance with conservation plans.O*NET Task ID 22133 | 0.0 |
Develop or maintain working relationships with local government staff or board members.O*NET Task ID 22137 | 0.0 |
Revisit land users to view implemented land use practices or plans.O*NET Task ID 22143 | 0.0 |
Manage field offices or involve staff in cooperative ventures.O*NET Task ID 22152 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (30)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Implement soil or water management techniques, such as nutrient management, erosion control, buffers, or filter strips, in accordance with conservation plans. | Core |
| Advise land users, such as farmers or ranchers, on plans, problems, or alternative conservation solutions. | Core |
| Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications. | Core |
| Visit areas affected by erosion problems to identify causes or determine solutions. | Core |
| Develop or maintain working relationships with local government staff or board members. | Core |
| Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives. | Core |
| Gather information from geographic information systems (GIS) databases or applications to formulate land use recommendations. | Core |
| Compute design specifications for implementation of conservation practices, using survey or field information, technical guides or engineering manuals. | Core |
| Participate on work teams to plan, develop, or implement programs or policies for improving environmental habitats, wetlands, or groundwater or soil resources. | Core |
| Conduct fact-finding or mediation sessions among government units, landowners, or other agencies to resolve disputes. | Core |
| Revisit land users to view implemented land use practices or plans. | Core |
| Respond to complaints or questions on wetland jurisdiction, providing information or clarification. | Core |
| Compute cost estimates of different conservation practices, based on needs of land users, maintenance requirements, or life expectancy of practices. | Core |
| Provide information, knowledge, expertise, or training to government agencies at all levels to solve water or soil management problems or to assure coordination of resource protection activities. | Core |
| Analyze results of investigations to determine measures needed to maintain or restore proper soil management. | Core |
| 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. | Core |
| Identify or recommend integrated weed and pest management (IPM) strategies, such as resistant plants, cultural or behavioral controls, soil amendments, insects, natural enemies, barriers, or pesticides. | Core |
| Review proposed wetland restoration easements or provide technical recommendations. | Core |
| Develop, conduct, or participate in surveys, studies, or investigations of various land uses to inform corrective action plans. | Core |
| Manage field offices or involve staff in cooperative ventures. | Core |
| Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water. | Core |
| Initiate, schedule, or conduct annual audits or compliance checks of program implementation by local government. | Core |
| Review or approve amendments to comprehensive local water plans or conservation district plans. | Core |
| Develop or conduct environmental studies, such as plant material field trials or wildlife habitat impact studies. | Core |
| Enter local soil, water, or other environmental data into adaptive or Web-based decision tools to identify appropriate analyses or techniques. | Core |
| Compile or interpret biodata to determine extent or type of wetlands or to aid in program formulation. | Core |
| Review annual reports of counties, conservation districts, or watershed management organizations, certifying compliance with mandated reporting requirements. | Core |
| Review grant applications or make funding recommendations. | Core |
| Develop soil maps. | Core |
| Develop water conservation or harvest plans, using weather information systems, irrigation information management systems, or other sources of daily evapotranspiration (ET) data. | Supplemental |
0.08/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Implement soil or water management techniques, such as nutrient management, erosion control, buffers, or filter strips, in accordance with conservation plans. | E0 none |
| Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications. | E0 none |
| Visit areas affected by erosion problems to identify causes or determine solutions. | E0 none |
| Revisit land users to view implemented land use practices or plans. | E2 structured facilities |
| Develop, conduct, or participate in surveys, studies, or investigations of various land uses to inform corrective action plans. | E0 none |
| Develop or conduct environmental studies, such as plant material field trials or wildlife habitat impact studies. | E0 none |
| Develop soil maps. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
Values for the whole SOC 19-1031 group (Conservation scientists), not for this O*NET occupation alone.
- Employment, 2025
- 28K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 29K
- Change (2025–35)
- +5.3%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $73,010
- Typical education needed for entry
- Bachelor's degree
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21115 | 임학 연구원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 2133Environmental Protection Professionals
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Environmental protection professionals study and assess the effects on the environment of human activity such as air, water and noise pollution, soil contamination, climate change, toxic waste and depletion and degradation of natural resources. They develop plans and solutions to protect, conserve, restore, minimize and prevent further damage to the environment.
Tasks
- (a) conducting research, performing tests, collecting samples, performing field and laboratory analysis to identify sources of environmental problems and recommending ways to prevent, control and remediate the impact of environmental problems;
- (b) assessing the likely impact that potential or proposed activities, projects and developments may have on the environment, and recommending whether such developments should proceed;
- (c) developing and coordinating the implementation of environmental management systems to enable organizations to identify, monitor and control the impact of their activities, products and services on the environment;
- (d) conducting audits to evaluate environmental impact of existing activities, processes, wastes, noises and substances;
- (e) assessing an organization's compliance with government and internal environmental regulations and guidelines, identifying violations and determining appropriate remedial action;
- (f) providing technical advice and support services to organizations on how best to deal with environmental problems in order to reduce environmental damage and minimize financial loss;
- (g) developing conservation plans.
Example occupations
Air pollution analyst · Conservation officer · Conservation scientist · Ecologist · Environmental adviser · Environmental auditor · Environmental consultant · Environmental research scientist · Environmental scientist · Park ranger · Water quality analyst
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- natural resources consultantESCO 2133.8Same scope
Natural resources consultant provide advice on the protection and management of natural resources, namely fauna, flora, soil and water to companies and governments which exploit these resources. They strive to guide companies on an appropriate policy for exploiting natural resources in industrial contexts, raise awareness on health issues, and ensure the conservation of ecosystems for sustainable interventions in natural habitats.
- conservation scientistESCO 2133.3Overlapping, not the same
Conservation scientists manage the quality of specific forests, parks and other natural resources. They protect the wildlife habitat, biodiversity, scenic value, and other unique attributes of preserves and conservation lands. Conservation scientists perform field work.
- environmental scientistESCO 2133.7Overlapping, not the same
Environmental scientists identify problems and find solutions in order to minimize environmental hazards by performing analysis on samples such as air, water or soil. They advise on or develop environmental policies and aim to improve water supplies preservation and manage waste disposal sites. Environmental scientists perform environmental risk assessments and analyse the environmental impact of new solutions, construction sites or environmental changes ensuring the environmental regulations are followed.
- nature conservation officerESCO 2133.9Overlapping, not the same
Nature conservation officers manage and improve the local environment within all the sectors of a local community. They promote awareness of and understanding about the natural environment. This work can be very varied and involve projects related to species, habitats and communities. They educate people and raise overall awareness of environmental issues.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| A1317 | Gestionnaire d'aires marines protégées | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| A1303 | Ingénieur / Ingénieure d'études et de recherche agricoles | Overlapping, not the same |
| F1119 | Pédologue | Overlapping, not the same |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 2426 | Profesionales de la protección ambiental | This occupation is narrower |
| 2423 | Ingenieros de montes | Related, not a match |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 11724 | Berufe in der Natur- und Landschaftspflege - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the same |
| 11723 | Berufe in der Natur- und Landschaftspflege - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 42314 | Berufe in der Umweltschutzverwaltung und -beratung - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 061 | 農林水産技術者 | Related, not a match |
| 092 | 土木技術者 | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources