What Do Forest and Conservation Worker Do?
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
- Select or cut trees according to markings or sizes, types, or grades.
- Operate skidders, bulldozers, or other prime movers to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated.
- Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking or measuring efforts.
- Erect signs or fences, using posthole diggers, shovels, or other hand tools.
- Provide assistance to forest survey crews by clearing site-lines, holding measuring tools, or setting stakes.
- Sort tree seedlings, discarding substandard seedlings, according to standard charts or verbal instructions.
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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
- Christmas Tree Farm Worker
- Timber Deadener
- Field Laborer
- Gatherer
- Farmer
Job Demand for Forest and Conservation Workers
There were about 14,300 jobs for Forest and Conservation Worker in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Forest and Conservation Worker. There will be an estimated 2,100 positions for Forest and Conservation Worker per 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.
How Much Does a Forest and Conservation Worker Make?
The salary for Forest and Conservation Workers ranges between about $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 different U.S. states?
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 |
What Tools do Forest and Conservation Workers Use?
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
Learn what Forest and Conservation Worker education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become a Forest and Conservation Worker?

Where Forest and Conservation Workers Are Employed

The table below shows the approximate number of Forest and Conservation Workers employed by various industries.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Forest and Conservation Worker might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Forest and Conservation Worker in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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