{"id":7440,"date":"2023-12-19T15:10:31","date_gmt":"2023-12-19T21:10:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/webid2-test-lsweb\/?page_id=7440"},"modified":"2026-01-20T16:19:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T22:19:51","slug":"career-resources-job-outcomes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/conservation-environmental-science\/students\/career-resources-job-outcomes\/","title":{"rendered":"Career Resources and Job Outcomes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What Do Environmental Scientists\/Conservationists Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Begin thinking about which career role you would like to have upon graduation and 5 years. The field of Conservation and Environmental Science typically prepares students for a variety of natural resource management career roles, such as (see each described below) academic researcher, non-profit organization staff, consultant for an environmental firm, natural resource agency specialist, or environmental educator (i.e. naturalist or school teacher).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Academia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In academia, you may pursue several career roles, from laboratory technician to research scientist. As a laboratory technician, you will need either a BS or MS. If you choose to be a research scientist or principle investigator, you are likely to need a PhD. Pay varies, depending on your degree. In some cases, you may be responsible for teaching in addition to your research, and you could be expected to find funding for your projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Non-profit Organizations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Non-profit organizations have the freedom to work on projects they believe in, as long as they can find funding for those projects. Non-profits serve the public interest and are tax-exempt; the public makes donations to these organizations and expect to deduct them from their federal taxes. People who work for nonprofit organizations expect to make less money but tend to have a higher level of career satisfaction. Environmental education is a growing field within the non-profit arena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Environmental Consulting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the private sector, environmental consulting firms hire biologists, ecologists, and environmental scientists to complete biotic assessments and inventories, include ecosystem concerns in land planning at multiple scales, and assess the impact of proposed developments on natural ecosystems. The consulting arena is a fast-paced environment, where staff may juggle several projects simultaneously. Pay is typically higher in consulting firms than in the academic or agency arenas, but work schedules may be very demanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Environmental Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The environmental education career path includes those working as naturalists, recreation program leaders, journalists, interpreters, community outreach specialists, environmental communications specialists at private firms and industries, tour guides, and classroom teachers. Examples of employing organizations are nature centers or museums; local, state or federal parks and monuments; camps; outdoor adventure centers; public utility corporations; environmental advocacy groups such as the Audubon Society, and schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Government State, Local, or Federal Agency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The public sector is a dominant employer, from well-known agencies such as the National Park Service to the smallest local land conservation or water district. State, local, and federal environmental and conservation agencies are also prime movers in the development of new policy directions for environmental problem solving. Well-known federal government agencies include the following: National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Geological Survey; Environmental Protection Agency, and the USDA Forest Service. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is the state environmental agency. Local agencies include the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and offices within city government.
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Book for Environmental Careers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Deciding which Environmental Career attracts you? The Environmental Careers Organization\u2019s (ECO\u2019s) book, The Complete Guide to Environmental Careers in the 21st Century<\/em>, concisely describes a wide variety of conservation and environmental science careers. CES majors, interested students, and alumni can look through the printed version at the CES Program Coordinator\u2019s office, Lapham Hall, Room 364 (South Wing).
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Conservation and Environmental Science Career Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Students investigating environmental and conservation job careers often begin their job search online. Some students become discouraged because of the overwhelming number of environmental job seeking websites available to them. The following is an abbreviated list of sites previous students have found useful. The CES Program Coordinator maintains an expanded list of career internet links; please request this expanded list by email at young3@uwm.edu<\/a> or in person at Lapham Hall, Room 364 (South Wing).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General Environmental Job Posting Websites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n