Salary ranges for conservation jobs in Canada
December 11, 2025 Conservation Careers Guide in Canada

Salary Ranges for Conservation Roles in Canada

Written by WorkCabin

Understanding salary expectations in conservation can be challenging. The sector spans government agencies, Indigenous Nations, environmental nonprofits, private consulting firms, and research institutions—each with its own compensation model. This guide brings together data from Canadian employment surveys, nonprofit compensation reports, labour market tools, and aggregated job posting trends to give you a clear, evidence-backed picture of what conservation professionals earn across the country.

Whether you’re applying for your first field technician role or hiring a senior conservation scientist, this article offers reliable baseline ranges you can reference, share, and link to.

Why this matters

Conservation work is purpose-driven, but that doesn’t mean compensation shouldn’t be transparent. Accurate salary information helps:

  • Job seekers understand their market value

  • Employers set competitive and equitable pay

  • Funders and partners strengthen proposals and staffing plans

  • Students make informed training and career decisions

This guide consolidates publicly available data, industry surveys, and current job-market norms across Canada.

Quick Overview: Typical Salary Ranges in Canadian Conservation

Role Category Typical Salary Range (Annual)
Field / Seasonal Technicians (early career) $35,000–$55,000 (FTE) or $18–$30/hour
Environmental / Biological Technicians $40,000–$60,000
Wildlife Biologists / Conservation Biologists (mid-level) $55,000–$90,000
Restoration Ecologists / Senior Scientists $80,000–$120,000
Park Wardens / Conservation Officers (public sector) $55,000–$95,000+
Program Managers / Coordinators (nonprofit) $60,000–$95,000
Directors / Senior Managers (nonprofit or public) $90,000–$160,000+
Specialist Consultants (private sector) $70,000–$140,000+

Breaking Down Salary Ranges by Role

1. Field Technicians & Seasonal Conservation Staff

These roles are the gateway into conservation for many Canadians. Work includes:

  • Vegetation surveys

  • Bird and wildlife monitoring

  • Invasive species control

  • Habitat restoration site work

Typical pay:
$18–$30/hour
Equivalent to $35,000–$55,000 if full-time over a full year
Seasonal work often includes overtime or per diems
Pay varies by province, employer type, and remoteness of the field site.

2. Environmental & Biological Technicians

These positions include lab work, data collection, equipment operation, and reporting.

Typical pay:
$40,000–$60,000 for early-career full-time roles
Municipalities, utilities, and consulting firms typically pay the higher end; nonprofits the lower.

3. Conservation Biologists & Wildlife Biologists

These mid-level scientific roles involve designing studies, analyzing data, writing reports, conducting species assessments, and leading field programs.

Typical pay:
$55,000–$90,000
Higher salaries are common in government agencies, consulting, and specialized scientific roles.

4. Restoration Ecologists & Senior Scientists

These experts oversee complex habitat restoration projects, work with regulatory frameworks, manage teams, and often specialize in areas like wetlands, fisheries, species-at-risk, or environmental impact assessments.

Typical pay:
$80,000–$120,000+
Private consulting firms can exceed this depending on billing rates and project load.

5. Park Wardens & Conservation Officers

Public-sector compensation is usually based on step scales and collective agreements.

Typical pay:
$55,000–$95,000+ depending on level, province, and years of service
Roles may include enforcement, ecological monitoring, public safety, and visitor services.

In northern regions, cost-of-living allowances can increase total compensation.

6. Nonprofit Program Managers & Coordinators

These roles oversee conservation programs, grant reporting, partnerships, volunteers, and internal operations.

Typical pay:
$60,000–$95,000
Salary often correlates with organizational size and funding stability.

7. Senior Managers, Directors, and Executive Roles

These roles lead multi-year conservation strategies, fundraising, operations, and partnerships.

Typical pay:
$90,000–$160,000+
Large NGOs and public-sector agencies tend to pay more than small nonprofits.

8. Environmental Consultants & Specialists

Consultants are often among the highest earners in the sector due to:

  • Billing rates

  • Technical certifications

  • Time-sensitive regulatory work

Typical pay:
$70,000–$140,000+ depending on experience and specialization
Senior consultants with niche expertise (e.g., wetlands, SAR permitting, fisheries) commonly exceed $120k.

Understanding What Drives Salaries

1. Sector Makes a Big Difference

  • Public sector (federal/provincial/municipal): Often highest pay + strong benefits

  • Private consulting: High salaries tied to billable hours and specialization

  • Nonprofit sector: Lower base salaries, but attractive culture, flexibility, and mission alignment

2. Location & Cost of Living

Remote and northern positions may include:

  • Isolation allowances

  • Field premiums

  • Housing subsidies

Urban centres typically offer higher pay but may not include benefits like field allowances.

3. Experience & Certification

Certifications that boost earning potential include:

  • Electrofishing certification

  • Wildlife Chemical Immobilization

  • Wetland Evaluation / Ecological classification credentials

  • Drone operator certifications

  • First Aid / Wilderness First Responder

  • GIS and data analysis skills

Total Compensation Matters

Salary is only part of the picture. Many conservation roles include:

  • Health, dental, and vision benefits

  • Pension or group RRSP contributions

  • Field allowances, vehicle allowances, or per diem

  • Paid professional development

  • Additional paid leave or flexible schedules

Public-sector and large NGO employers commonly offer excellent benefits.

How to Use This Data as a Job Seeker

1. Benchmark your role

Find similar postings in your province, compare salary ranges, and adjust for your experience level.

2. Convert seasonal pay to annual equivalents

If a role is seasonal, calculate the full-time equivalent (FTE) to compare fairly with salaried roles.

3. Ask about total compensation

Ask about benefits, allowances, remote work policies, and funding stability.

4. Bring evidence to negotiations

Referencing national benchmarks improves your negotiating position and builds confidence.

How to Use This Data as an Employer

1. Add salary ranges to your job postings

Job seekers trust and engage more with transparent roles.
(WorkCabin.ca strongly encourages employers to include salary ranges in all postings.)

2. Benchmark against competitors

Use this guide to ensure your pay aligns with market expectations to attract stronger talent.

3. Consider non-salary factors

Flexible schedules, strong workplace culture, training budgets, and field allowances significantly enhance your competitiveness.

Final Thoughts

Canada’s conservation sector is diverse, mission-driven, and steadily professionalizing. Transparent salaries help strengthen the sector, support equity, and empower both job seekers and employers.

This guide gives a data-backed foundation, but remember: salary is influenced by role complexity, organizational size, regional economy, and candidate experience.

References (primary)
ECO Canada — Environmental Worker Compensation Guide / Salary Insights (2024–2025).
Government of Canada — Job Bank: Wildlife Biologist, Environmental Technician wage pages (updated Nov 19, 2025).
Glassdoor — Conservation Biologist / Wildlife Biologist salary pages (Canada).
PayScale — Environmental Technician and related roles (2024–2025 data).
CharityVillage — 2024 Canadian Nonprofit Sector Salary & Benefits Report.
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