Forest and Conservation Technicians: Career Overview
Provide technical assistance regarding the conservation of soil, water, forests, or related natural resources. May compile data pertaining to size, content, condition, and other characteristics of forest tracts under the direction of foresters, or train and lead forest workers in forest propagation and fire prevention and suppression. May assist conservation scientists in managing, improving, and protecting rangelands and wildlife habitats.
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The Daily Work of Forest and Conservation Technicians Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of forest and conservation technicians cover:
- Thin and space trees and control weeds and undergrowth, using manual tools and chemicals, or supervise workers performing these tasks.
- Train and lead forest and conservation workers in seasonal activities, such as planting tree seedlings, putting out forest fires, and maintaining recreational facilities.
- Provide information about, and enforce, regulations, such as those concerning environmental protection, resource utilization, fire safety, and accident prevention.
- Patrol park or forest areas to protect resources and prevent damage.
- Map forest tract data using digital mapping systems.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective forest and conservation technicians draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Biological Science Aide
- Conservation Agent
- Conservation Officer
- Conservation Technician
- Field Technician (Field Tech)
- Forest Technician
- Forester Aide
- Forestry Aid Technician
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 72,716 forest and conservation technicians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +0.5% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Forest and Conservation Technicians Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $50,097 |
| Hourly median | $24.09 |
| 10th percentile | $30,534 |
| 25th percentile | $40,316 |
| 75th percentile | $59,879 |
| 90th percentile | $69,660 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Forest and Conservation Technicians Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $67,450 |
| Minnesota | $63,540 |
| California | $60,880 |
| Louisiana | $58,820 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,910 |
| New York | $56,340 |
| Oregon | $55,810 |
| Alaska | $54,810 |
| Washington | $54,310 |
| Colorado | $54,310 |
| Idaho | $54,310 |
| Montana | $54,310 |
| Alabama | $54,310 |
| Arkansas | $54,310 |
| Arizona | $54,310 |
| Massachusetts | $53,960 |
| Michigan | $53,730 |
| Nevada | $53,350 |
| Wyoming | $53,250 |
| Nebraska | $53,250 |
| Wisconsin | $52,620 |
| Florida | $52,290 |
| South Dakota | $52,290 |
| Texas | $51,570 |
| Mississippi | $51,460 |
| West Virginia | $51,440 |
| Georgia | $48,880 |
| Vermont | $48,510 |
| Iowa | $48,280 |
| South Carolina | $48,260 |
| Hawaii | $47,810 |
| Tennessee | $47,370 |
| Missouri | $46,860 |
| Illinois | $45,570 |
| Ohio | $45,570 |
| North Carolina | $45,570 |
| North Dakota | $44,820 |
| Utah | $44,780 |
| New Hampshire | $44,700 |
| Virginia | $43,330 |
| Kentucky | $40,910 |
| Maine | $39,560 |
| Kansas | $36,660 |
| Puerto Rico | $34,670 |
Where Forest and Conservation Technicians Earn the Most
Compensation for forest and conservation technicians shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $59,095 | 2.2% | 0.23 |
| Far Western US | $58,143 | 40.1% | 3.23 |
| Southwest | $53,648 | 6.1% | 1.63 |
| Plains States | $52,849 | 7.1% | 1.58 |
| Rocky Mountains | $52,527 | 24.3% | 10.67 |
| Great Lakes | $49,056 | 7.5% | 0.74 |
| Southeast | $48,737 | 12.0% | 0.60 |
| New England | $45,361 | 0.6% | 0.76 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $70,720 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $70,220 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $66,020 | 600 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $66,020 | 590 |
| Asheville, NC | NC | $65,960 | 50 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $65,450 | 140 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $65,230 | 130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $65,060 | 340 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of forest and conservation technicians are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,410 | $53,960 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 680 | $45,040 |
| Educational Services | 380 | $49,120 |
| Utilities | 260 | $101,150 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 110 | $37,590 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 80 | $61,770 |
Below are examples of industries where forest and conservation technicians work:
Tech Stack
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: Geographic information system GIS systems (in demand)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of forest and conservation technicians tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
How to Become Forest and Conservation Technicians
Entry-level forest and conservation technicians positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Water Resource Specialists (Supplemental)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Agricultural Engineers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Soil and Plant Scientists (Supplemental)
- Conservation Scientists (Primary-Short)
- Range Managers (Primary-Short)
- Foresters (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future forest and conservation technicians typically earn programs in:
Natural Resources and Conservation
6 programs across 2 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-4071.00 (Forest and Conservation Technicians).
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