Career comparison
Environmental Science Professor vs. Forestry and Conservation Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Forestry and conservation professors earn more at the median ($101,420 vs. $94,980), while environmental science professors usually get to work faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s of training). Environmental science professors teach how people and the environment interact, and how to protect it. Forestry and conservation professors teach and research forests, wildlife and natural resource management.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Environmental Science Professor | Forestry and Conservation Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $94,980 | $101,420 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $57,780 – $164,190 | $50,100 – $148,920 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.7% (about as fast as average) | +2.8% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 600 | 100 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in environmental science | Ph.D. in forestry or ecology |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms, labs and field sites.. | Faculty work in classrooms, labs, forests and field stations.. |
What each job does
Environmental Science Professor
- Teach environmental science courses
- Lead field sampling labs
- Conduct research
- Partner with communities and agencies
- Mentor students
Forestry and Conservation Professor
- Teach forestry and conservation courses
- Lead field labs
- Conduct research
- Partner with agencies
- Mentor students
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working outdoors, working with people, working independently, and problem-solving. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose environmental science professor if…
- I care about the environment
- I like field research
- I enjoy teaching
Choose forestry and conservation professor if…
- I love forests and wildlife
- I like teaching outdoors
- I enjoy research
Still torn? Take the Environmental Science Professor fit quiz and the Forestry and Conservation Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, environmental science professor or forestry and conservation professor?
Forestry and Conservation Professors earn more at the median: $101,420 versus $94,980 for environmental science professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Environmental Science Professors typically train faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s) than forestry and conservation professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects forestry and conservation professors to grow +2.8% from 2025–35, compared with +2.7% for environmental science professors.