Ecological Restoration Specialist

Plan and implement ecological restoration projects that rehabilitate degraded ecosystems including wetlands, prairies, forests, and riparian corridors to improve biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem services. Conduct vegetation surveys, develop restoration planting plans, oversee contractor activities, and monitor restoration success against ecological performance metrics. Engage with regulatory agencies, landowners, and conservation organizations to advance landscape-scale restoration goals.

Median salary: $78,000. Projected growth to 2033: 10% (faster than average) - driven by mitigation banking and nature-based climate solutions. Typical education: Bachelor's Degree.

At a glance

Median salary: $78,000
Entry-level: $48,000 - $62,000
Senior: $115,000+
Growth by 2033: 10% (faster than average) - driven by mitigation banking and nature-based climate solutions
Demand: Growing
Remote: Hybrid
Hours per week: 40-50 hours/week
Stress: Low

What you'd do

People interaction: Moderate
Team vs solo: 55% Team / 45% Solo
Client facing: Sometimes
Impact visibility: High

How to get there

Minimum education: Bachelor's Degree
Licensing: No
Years to mid-career: 3-5 years
Years to senior: 7-10 years
Career switching: Moderate
Typical student debt: $25,000 - $50,000

Skills you'll use

Hard skills

Vegetation Survey & Plant Identification
Wetland Delineation (Army Corps 1987 Manual)
Restoration Planting Design
Invasive Species Management
Ecological Performance Monitoring & Adaptive Management
Section 404 & 401 Permitting

Soft skills

Ecological Knowledge
Field Investigation
Written Communication
Project Management
Stakeholder Engagement

Technical complexity: Moderate

Typical career path