What is a Forest and Conservation Worker?
Occupation Description Under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, forested areas, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands through such activities as raising and transporting seedlings; combating insects, pests, and diseases harmful to plant life; and building structures to control water, erosion, and leaching of soil. Includes forester aides, seedling pullers, and tree planters.
Daily Life Of a Forest and Conservation Worker
- Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.
- Thin or space trees, using power thinning saws.
- Confer with other workers to discuss issues such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
- Sow or harvest cover crops, such as alfalfa.
- Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.
- Examine and grade trees according to standard charts and staple color-coded grade tags to limbs.
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What a Forest and Conservation Worker Should Know
These are the skills Forest and Conservation Workers say are the most useful in their careers:
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Other Forest and Conservation Worker Job Titles
- Raker
- Forest Worker
- Woodsman
- Tree Tapping Laborer
- Moss Picker
Is There Job Demand for Forest and Conservation Workers?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 14,300 jobs in the United States for Forest and Conservation Worker. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Forest and Conservation Worker. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,100 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Forest and Conservation Worker are Oregon, North Dakota, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Massachusetts, Louisiana, or New Jersey. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Forest and Conservation Workers Salary
Forest and Conservation Workers make between $21,940 and $48,220 a year.

Forest and Conservation Workers who work in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, or Missouri, make the highest salaries.
How much do Forest and Conservation Workers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
California | $24,720 |
Colorado | $28,830 |
District of Columbia | $50,800 |
Florida | $33,850 |
Georgia | $38,190 |
Hawaii | $39,810 |
Illinois | $38,760 |
Indiana | $24,340 |
Iowa | $28,400 |
Kansas | $28,380 |
Louisiana | $35,590 |
Maryland | $41,030 |
Massachusetts | $46,700 |
Michigan | $41,710 |
Missouri | $44,220 |
Montana | $30,080 |
New Hampshire | $33,440 |
New Jersey | $37,320 |
New York | $39,100 |
North Dakota | $32,490 |
Ohio | $41,520 |
Oklahoma | $33,250 |
Oregon | $36,920 |
Pennsylvania | $51,970 |
South Carolina | $28,330 |
South Dakota | $28,690 |
Tennessee | $25,570 |
Texas | $34,280 |
Washington | $28,070 |
West Virginia | $25,830 |
Wisconsin | $41,960 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Forest and Conservation Workers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Forest and Conservation Workers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE
- ESRI ArcGIS software
How to Become a Forest and Conservation Worker
What kind of Forest and Conservation Worker requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Forest and Conservation Workers Work?

Forest and Conservation Workers work in the following industries:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Forest and Conservation Worker might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as a Forest and Conservation Worker sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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