# Environmental Restoration Planners

> Collaborate with field and biology staff to oversee the implementation of restoration projects and to develop new products. Process and synthesize complex scientific data into practical strategies for restoration, monitoring or management.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-restoration-planners
- SOC code: 19-2041.02
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $82,220 (10th percentile $52,520, 90th percentile $140,010)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.1%
- Openings a year: 7,300
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Environmental scientists and specialists, including health".

## Interest profile (code IRC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 72 |
| Investigative (I) | 88 |
| Artistic (A) | 21 |
| Social (S) | 19 |
| Enterprising (E) | 44 |
| Conventional (C) | 52 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 89/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 86/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 86/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 83/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 82/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 81/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 80/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 80/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 80/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 79/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Monitoring, Systems Analysis, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Biology, English Language, Geography, Design, Mathematics, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, Law and Government, Engineering and Technology, Computers and Electronics

## Also called

Coastal and Estuary Specialist, Conservation Planner, Environmental Planner, Environmental Planning Engineer, Environmental Restoration Planner, Fisheries Habitat Restoration Specialist, Habitat Conservation Planner, Habitat Restoration Specialist, Marine Habitat Resources Specialist, Restoration Ecologist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Chemistry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4005) (CIP 4005, 1,371 colleges)
- [Natural Resources Conservation and Research](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0301) (CIP 0301, 1,081 colleges)
- [Public Health](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5122) (CIP 5122, 836 colleges)
- [Sustainability Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3033) (CIP 3033, 279 colleges)
- [Pharmacology and Toxicology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2610) (CIP 2610, 109 colleges)
- [Geography and Environmental Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3044) (CIP 3044, 67 colleges)
- Marine Sciences (CIP 3032, 40 colleges)
- Environmental Geosciences (CIP 3041, 17 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of California-Santa Barbara UCSB](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-santa-barbara-ucsb-2888) | Pharmacology and Toxicology | $42,364 | $98,462 | $11,000 |
| [Utah State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/utah-state-university-3102) | Public Health | $77,239 | $93,161 | not reported |
| [College of the Holy Cross](https://www.collegesref.com/college/college-of-the-holy-cross-626) | Chemistry | $51,144 | $93,122 | $18,250 |
| [The College of New Jersey](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-college-of-new-jersey-2736) | Chemistry | not reported | $90,396 | $27,000 |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Public Health | not reported | $89,522 | $17,279 |
| [Northeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northeastern-university-1923) | Chemistry | $84,338 | $88,364 | not reported |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Public Health | $55,305 | $87,217 | $19,500 |
| [Montana Technological University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/montana-technological-university-1758) | Public Health | not reported | $86,855 | $25,200 |

## Related careers

- [Conservation Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/conservation-scientists): $73,010 median pay
- [Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/brownfield-redevelopment-specialists-and-site-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Industrial Ecologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-ecologists): $82,220 median pay
- [Range Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/range-managers): $73,010 median pay
- [Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-scientists-and-specialists-including-health): $82,220 median pay
- [Water Resource Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-resource-specialists): $167,220 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.