August 2025

Employee sentiment in this field is a mix of high purpose and low pay. A survey from CareerExplorer found that conservation scientists rate their career happiness as "above average," with a high rating for the meaningfulness of their work. However, they rate their salary satisfaction as just "average." This is a recurring theme on social media, where professionals express a deep passion for their work but are often frustrated by low wages and a lack of funding, which can lead to a reliance on volunteer labor. There is a sense that while the work is crucial, the industry's financial instability and reliance on external funding can make for a precarious career path. Many feel that the rewarding nature of the work is expected to compensate for the subpar pay and limited resources.

Employment in the Environment & Conservation industry continues to see a steady stream of job postings, especially for roles in conservation, environmental science, and sustainability. However, recent trends show that this sector's growth is heavily influenced by policy shifts and government funding. Recent news highlights a number of federal setbacks for clean energy projects, with the potential for thousands of jobs to be lost due to the elimination of tax credits. This has created a sense of uncertainty in the green energy sub-sector. Conversely, state and local governments are stepping up, with some states passing major climate change legislation and creating new jobs to support conservation efforts.