TRADES College Major

Natural Resources

Salary data, career paths, top colleges, and every specialization, all sourced from College Scorecard, IPEDS, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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About Natural Resources

Wondering whether Natural Resources is worth studying? What matters is what graduates actually earn, where they end up working, and which colleges produce the most of them. Most graduates end up in this field, so it is worth knowing what an Economist earns and how the role is projected to grow.

Forestry, wildlife management, and conservation science. Land and water resource careers with federal agencies, state parks, nonprofits, and private land managers. Four years after finishing the degree, graduates in this field earn a national median of $58,784, per College Scorecard. You can study it at 1,193 colleges and universities across the country, so location is rarely the limiting factor. About 32,106 students complete a degree in this area every year.

Median Earnings · 1yr: $34,345
Median Earnings · 4yr: $58,784
Colleges Offering: 1,193
Graduates / Year: 32,106
Specializations: 6
Avg Net Price / yr: $18,976

Is a Natural Resources Degree Right for You?

$58,784 Median earnings · 4yr

+4.7% 10yr job growth

6 Specializations

Is the Investment Worth It?

Breaks even in ~2.6 yrs vs $30K/yr baseline wage

Annual earnings

$58,784/yr

Total 4yr cost

$75,904

Solid ROI. Median earnings of $58,784 after 4 years. Against an estimated $75,904 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.6 years.

ROI varies significantly by specialization and institution. A top program in a high-demand specialization can return many multiples of its cost. A lower-tier program in a saturated field may take a decade to break even. Use the Specializations and Best Colleges sections above to compare your specific options before deciding.

How Much Do Natural Resources Majors Earn?

Pay for Natural Resources graduates climbs fast in the first few years out. The median start is $34,345 one year after graduation, rising to $58,784 by year four, so the early salary is not the ceiling. Source: College Scorecard, across all 1,193 US institutions offering programs in this field.

$34,345

1 Year After Graduation

Median at the institutional level. Entry-level salaries; reflects career start, not peak earnings.

$58,784

4-Year National Median

Enrollment-weighted national median across all institutions. Most graduates have 2-3 years of career experience at this point.

$54,034

4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size. Closer to what a typical school's graduates earn.

Earnings Range Across Specializations

Not all Natural Resources specializations pay the same. The most lucrative programs pay $58,784/yr nationally, while the lowest-earning specializations average $45,338/yr. See the Specializations section below for a program-by-program breakdown.

$45,338 Lowest

$58,784 Median

$58,784 Highest

What Can You Do With a Natural Resources Degree?

Career Paths for Natural Resources Graduates

Studying Natural Resources does not lock you into one job title. It opens 8 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from entry-level roles to senior ones, and Economist pays the most among them at a median $124,720 a year. Each row below adds national wages, employment levels, and the 10-year growth outlook so you can weigh the rest.

Another common path leads to what Economics Teachers typically earn and how the field is trending.

Economist Master's degree

$124,720 ↗ +4.7% growth

Economics Teachers Doctoral or professional degree

$123,920 ↗ +2.4% growth

Environmental Science Teachers Doctoral or professional degree

$94,980 ↗ +2.7% growth

Detective & Criminal Investigator High school diploma or equivalent

$93,790 ↗ +0.2% growth

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers Postsecondary nondegree award

$93,530 ↗ +3.7% growth

Environmental Scientist Bachelor's degree

$82,220 ↗ +6.1% growth

Compliance Officers Bachelor's degree

$80,730 ↗ +3.8% growth

Entertainment and Recreation Managers Bachelor's degree

$79,520 ↗ +6.0% growth

Natural Resources Specializations

Natural Resources spans 6 specializations, and the choice among them will not swing your paycheck much: four-year earnings run from $45,338 to $58,784 across the whole group. Each row links to a full program profile with institution counts and annual completion data. Source: College Scorecard.

The highest-paying specialization is the cost and outcomes for a Forestry program, which is worth a closer look before settling on the broader field.

Specialization Colleges Grads/yr Earnings · 4yr

Forestry 133 2,243 $58,784

Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy 185 3,147 $56,185

Natural Resources Conservation and Research 1,078 23,672 $55,012

Natural Resources and Conservation 20 150 $48,754

Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management 30 505 $47,243

Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management 96 2,389 $45,338

Best Colleges for Natural Resources

These are the 20 colleges that graduate the most students in Natural Resources, ranked by how many completed the degree in the most recent reporting year, not by selectivity or prestige. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate for each one come from College Scorecard and IPEDS.

By that measure, the list starts with the cost and admissions data for Oregon State University.

Oregon State University Corvallis, OR · Public

Acceptance 77.3%

Net price/yr $19,604

Earnings 10yr $64,010

Grad rate 57%

University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public

Acceptance 11%

Net price/yr $13,481

Earnings 10yr $92,446

Grad rate 74%

Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH · Nonprofit

Acceptance 99.5%

Net price/yr $36,708

Earnings 10yr $50,318

Grad rate 30%

University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA · Public

Acceptance 33%

Net price/yr $16,109

Earnings 10yr $74,915

Grad rate 65%

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI · Public

Acceptance 15.6%

Net price/yr $13,138

Earnings 10yr $83,648

Grad rate 90%

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA · Public

Acceptance 54.8%

Net price/yr $24,953

Earnings 10yr $81,698

Grad rate 81%

University of California-Davis Davis, CA · Public

Acceptance 41.8%

Net price/yr $14,741

Earnings 10yr $80,838

Grad rate 81%

North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC · Public

Acceptance 41.7%

Net price/yr $17,303

Earnings 10yr $68,758

Grad rate 79%

Texas A&M University-College Station College Station, TX · Public

Acceptance 57.4%

Net price/yr $21,315

Earnings 10yr $72,097

Grad rate 80%

University of Florida Gainesville, FL · Public

Acceptance 24.2%

Net price/yr $6,541

Earnings 10yr $71,588

Grad rate 83%

University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO · Public

Acceptance 78.1%

Net price/yr $25,346

Earnings 10yr $69,738

Grad rate 59%

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata, CA · Public

Acceptance 98.2%

Net price/yr $13,171

Earnings 10yr $47,626

Grad rate 57%

University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA · Public

Acceptance 39.2%

Net price/yr $14,091

Earnings 10yr $78,466

Grad rate 73%

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI · Public

Acceptance 91.8%

Net price/yr $14,559

Earnings 10yr $52,021

Grad rate 62%

University of Vermont Burlington, VT · Public

Acceptance 65.3%

Net price/yr $19,343

Earnings 10yr $62,472

Grad rate 71%

Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO · Public

Acceptance 88.5%

Net price/yr $21,279

Earnings 10yr $60,543

Grad rate 64%

Duke University Durham, NC · Nonprofit

Acceptance 5.7%

Net price/yr $29,612

Earnings 10yr $97,800

Grad rate 94%

University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI · Public

Acceptance 45.2%

Net price/yr $17,354

Earnings 10yr $73,792

Grad rate 75%

Michigan State University East Lansing, MI · Public

Acceptance 84.8%

Net price/yr $19,680

Earnings 10yr $67,253

Grad rate 79%

Western Washington University Bellingham, WA · Public

Acceptance 93.3%

Net price/yr $21,193

Earnings 10yr $62,569

Grad rate 66%

View all colleges

Ranked by number of Natural Resources graduates per IPEDS completion data. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate from College Scorecard. Read our methodology →

How Natural Resources Compares to Similar Majors

Major

$30k $40k $50k $60k $70k $80k $90k $100k

Engineering Tech

Computer Science

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Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Natural Resources degree, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find programs that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Natural Resources degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Natural Resources Degree: Pros & Cons

Natural Resources is a mixed case: real strengths, offset by real trade-offs, and neither side is large enough to settle the decision on its own. All 4 points below are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, and IPEDS graduate counts, with no editorial opinion added.

PROS

Above-average earnings Four-year median of $58,784 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science fields.
Positive job outlook Related careers project up to +6.1% job growth over the next decade per BLS data.
Wide availability Offered at 1,193 colleges nationwide, including community colleges and online programs.
Strong salary growth Median salary grows from $34,345 at graduation to $58,784 four years later, indicating solid career momentum.

Natural Resources Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Natural Resources graduates earn?

$58,784 a year four years after finishing the degree. That is the national median, so half of graduates earn more and half earn less, and specialization, institution, and region move the number a lot. Use the specializations table on this page to see which tracks pay above and below it. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the starting salary for a Natural Resources degree?

About $34,345 in the first year out, at the institutional level. That is an early number, not a ceiling, and it moves with employer, location, and which specialization within Natural Resources you picked. Source: College Scorecard.

What jobs can you get with a Natural Resources degree?

More than one path, so the degree does not lock you into a single title. Economist pays the most among related roles, at a median $124,720 a year nationally, but it is one option among several. See the Career Paths section on this page for the full list with employment levels and 10-year growth projections. Source: BLS.

How many colleges offer Natural Resources?

1,193 colleges and universities in the United States, so location is rarely the limiting factor. Options run from community colleges offering associate degrees to research universities with doctoral programs, so the harder choice is which type of school fits, not whether one is nearby. The Best Colleges section on this page ranks the top institutions by graduation volume. Source: IPEDS.

Is a Natural Resources degree worth it?

For most students, yes, though the margin depends on which specialization and school you pick. Median 4-year earnings run $58,784 against an average net price of roughly $18,976 a year across institutions that offer this major, and high-earning specializations widen that gap considerably. Compare your specific program before assuming the average applies to you.

How long does it take to earn a Natural Resources degree?

Anywhere from two to four years, depending on whether you go the associate or bachelor's route. Many people in Natural Resources also get in through an apprenticeship instead, which is usually the fastest path to paid work.

What skills do employers look for in Natural Resources graduates?

Employers hiring Natural Resources graduates consistently prioritize technical proficiency, safety compliance, hands-on problem-solving, and equipment operation. Certifications, apprenticeships, and demonstrated practical experience typically carry as much weight as academic credentials in this field.

Is graduate school worth it for Natural Resources graduates?

With a median salary of $58,784, graduate study in Natural Resources can meaningfully increase long-term income, particularly for specialized or professional programs aligned with high-demand roles. The right answer depends on your career goals, program cost, and whether your target role explicitly requires or rewards an advanced credential.

What is the 10-year job outlook for Natural Resources graduates?

Outlook is moderate: related occupations project an average of +3.7% growth over the next decade. Environmental Scientist leads the group at +6.1%. Demand still swings by specialization, employer sector, and region, so treat this as a starting point rather than a guarantee. Source: BLS.

Natural Resources

Median earnings · 4yr: $58,784
Median earnings · 1yr: $34,345
Colleges offering: 1,193
Graduates / year: 32,106
Specializations: 6

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