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How to hire a natural resource specialist

Natural resource specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring natural resource specialists in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a natural resource specialist is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new natural resource specialist to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a natural resource specialist, step by step

To hire a natural resource specialist, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a natural resource specialist:

Here's a step-by-step natural resource specialist hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a natural resource specialist job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new natural resource specialist
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a natural resource specialist do?

Natural Resource Specialists are usually employed in a university, conservation center, or research center. As their title suggests, they are in charge of initiatives related to natural resources. They may lead to research projects, fieldwork activities, or conferences related to natural resources' general topic or specialization. Natural resource specialists may specialize in wildlife, forestry, land management, marine life, and the environment. A lot of their tasks are dependent on their specialization. They may be assigned to manage paperwork related to permits and other important documents. They may also be assigned to monitor a specific sector in their specialization. They may also be assigned to work on conservation programs.

Learn more about the specifics of what a natural resource specialist does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your natural resource specialist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a natural resource specialist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A natural resource specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, natural resource specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list presents natural resource specialist salaries for various positions.

    Type of Natural Resource SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Natural Resource SpecialistEnvironmental scientists and specialists use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment and human health. They may clean up polluted areas, advise policymakers, or work with industry to reduce waste.$21-50
    Environmental AnalystAn environmental analyst is responsible for studying nature and analyzing its components to determine its relation with living organisms. Environmental analysts coordinate with other non-profit organizations to identify preservation efforts to maintain a safe and healthy environment... Show more$19-44
    Environmental Scientist/GeologistAn environmental scientist/geologist's role is to study the earth and its environmental processes. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering samples and data, conducting research and analysis, participating in experiments, and maintaining records of all methods and findings... Show more$23-39
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Management Plans
    • USDA
    • Natural Resource Management
    • Environmental Issues
    • Environmental Regulations
    • Environmental Assessments
    • Technical Guidance
    • Cultural Resources
    • Environmental Policy
    • GIS
    • Data Collection
    • Federal Agencies
    • GPS
    • Project Management
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Create and manage multidisciplinary, interagency research teams.
    • Present workshops on data sources, metadata, basic cartography, basic GIS, and GPS use.
    • Maintain data according to prescribe BLM program standards.
    • Evaluate deer density data to determine harvest goals for public hunts.
    • General maintenance of laboratory facilities, boats, and lab equipment.
    • Determine forest acreage through aerial and topographic maps and through the extensive use of GPS applications.
    More natural resource specialist duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your natural resource specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A natural resource specialist can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, natural resource specialists' average salary in florida is 56% less than in district of columbia.
    • Seniority. Entry-level natural resource specialists 58% less than senior-level natural resource specialists.
    • Certifications. A natural resource specialist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a natural resource specialist's salary.

    Average natural resource specialist salary

    $68,446yearly

    $32.91 hourly rate

    Entry-level natural resource specialist salary
    $44,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 18, 2025

    Average natural resource specialist salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1District of Columbia$112,780$54
    2California$96,462$46
    3New York$83,115$40
    4Maryland$78,692$38
    5Nevada$77,972$37
    6Virginia$77,695$37
    7Colorado$77,096$37
    8Ohio$70,940$34
    9Michigan$69,710$34
    10New Jersey$69,515$33
    11North Carolina$68,383$33
    12Oregon$67,875$33
    13Washington$64,932$31
    14Texas$61,877$30
    15Montana$60,678$29
    16Arizona$60,631$29
    17Hawaii$57,621$28
    18Wisconsin$56,430$27
    19Alaska$53,255$26
    20Nebraska$50,887$24

    Average natural resource specialist salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Booz Allen Hamilton$102,842$49.444
    2Jacobs Engineering Group$88,913$42.75
    3Forest Manufacturing Co$84,958$40.85
    4Swiss Reinsurance America Corporation$81,850$39.35
    5National Park Foundation$80,068$38.49
    6Sotheby's$75,603$36.35
    7United States Army Corps of Engineers$73,081$35.14
    8DuBois & King$73,037$35.11
    9Jacobs Enterprises$73,012$35.1015
    10Pennsylvania State Treasurer$73,011$35.10
    11GEI Consultants$72,920$35.061
    12Groundwater & Environmental Services$72,417$34.8212
    13The University of Texas at El Paso$72,338$34.781
    14AKS Engineering & Forestry$72,173$34.70
    15The University of Texas at San Antonio$69,932$33.624
    16iHire$69,765$33.54
    17Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi$67,998$32.69
    18Anchor QEA$67,646$32.522
    19Washington State University$67,245$32.33
    20Indian Health Service$66,504$31.97
  4. Writing a natural resource specialist job description

    A natural resource specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a natural resource specialist job description:

    Natural resource specialist job description example

    Groundwater & Environmental Services, Inc. (GES) , an industry leader with a reputation for excellence in providing environmental consulting, engineering, compliance, and technical field services to clients in diverse market sectors, seeks a well-rounded Natural Resource Specialist/ESG with field experience in ecological and stream assessments, wetland delineation, permitting, mitigation and preservation for our Exton, Pennsylvania location.Responsibilities:
    • Under limited supervision, provides high-level project support activities for Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) certification projects
    • Conducts natural resource field work, including wetland delineation, wetland mitigation monitoring, habitat assessment, wildlife monitoring, vegetation and forestry surveys
    • Leads and conducts ecological and stream assessments, endangered species surveys, and interdisciplinary desktop and field surveys
    • Preparation of wetland mitigation plans and designs
    • Leads the preparation of federal and state joint wetland permit applications and responds to agency, tribal and public comments and questions on permit applications
    • ESG scorecard development and tracking
    • Carbon sequestration sampling and analysis
    • Develops scopes of work and budgets for natural resource, permitting, and planning projects
    • Adheres to GES Loss Prevention System (LPS) safety protocols
    Skills & Requirements:
    • Bachelors degree or higher in Ecology, Natural Resources, Environmental Science or related field
    • Must have hands on fieldwork and office experience in the environmental consulting field
    • Experience preparing permit applications and other technical documents in compliance with federal, state and local environmental regulations including the Endangered Species Act
    • 5-7 years minimum related experience, ten years preferred
    • 3-5 years of experience in wetlands delineation/ecological work is required
    • ArcGIS/GPS
    • Ecological Risk Assessment experience a plus
    • Wetland delineation training/certification
    • Professional Wetland Scientist certification is a plus
    • Must possess excellent communication and technical writing skills
    • Storm water management experience is a plus
    Physical Requirements:
    • Ability to traverse various types of terrain for extended periods of time.
    • Physical ability to perform outdoor field work.
    • Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
    • Some overnight travel required
    • Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at a time.


    Our comprehensive benefits include: medical, dental, vision, prescription, 401k, FSA, LTD, STD, New Parent Leave, 529 CollegeBound Fund, Tuition Assistance, Bonus Plan, and more.

    Groundwater & Environmental Services, Inc. (GES) believes that diversity and inclusion among our staff is critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. At GES, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by law.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find natural resource specialists for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your natural resource specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit natural resource specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit natural resource specialists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new natural resource specialist

    Once you've found the natural resource specialist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a natural resource specialist?

There are different types of costs for hiring natural resource specialists. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new natural resource specialist employee.

You can expect to pay around $68,446 per year for a natural resource specialist, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for natural resource specialists in the US typically range between $21 and $50 an hour.

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