Occupation salary profile

Forest and Conservation Technicians

SOC 19-4071 BLS OEWS May 2025

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. Excludes “Conservation Scientists” (19-1031) and “Foresters” (19-1032).

National median · BLS
$54,560
▲ +0.46% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$59,060
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
30,410
Jobs (BLS)
Highest-paying state (cost-adjusted) Loading…
Most jobs Loading…
Highest-paying metro (cost-adjusted) Loading…

Check your salary

Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.

Pay range for Forest and Conservation Technicians

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$40,330
25th$47,360
Median (50th)$54,560
75th$68,600
90th — top pay$83,630

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

Type in either box; the other updates instantly.

Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Forest and Conservation Technicians

BLS projects employment of forest and conservation technicians to decline 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%. About 3,800 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
32,800 → 32,200
-700 jobs
Projected change
-2.1%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
3,800
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
No related experience required
Self-employed
1.1% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Fastest-declining jobs → Best-paying jobs that need an associate's degree →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Forest and Conservation Technicians

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Active Listening3.8
  • Critical Thinking3.8
  • Reading Comprehension3.4
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.3
  • Speaking3.3
  • Time Management3.3
  • Coordination3.1
  • Instructing3.1
  • Monitoring3.1
  • Social Perceptiveness3.1
Top knowledge areas
  • Public Safety and Security3.8
  • English Language3.7
  • Customer and Personal Service3.5
  • Law and Government3.4
  • Administration and Management3.4
  • Geography3.4
  • Mathematics3.3
  • Education and Training3.3
Software and technology used
ESRI ArcGIS softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsFacebookMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Active Server Pages ASPMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordAllegro LandmarkAssisi CompilerAssisi ForestAssisi InventoryAtterbury Consultants SuperAceAutodesk AutoCAD LTBen Meadows Yeoman ExpeditionComputer graphics software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What forest and conservation technicians do

  • 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.
  • Keep records of the amount and condition of logs taken to mills.
  • Manage forest protection activities, including fire control, fire crew training, and coordination of fire detection and public education programs.
  • Monitor activities of logging companies and contractors.
Also called
Forest TechnicianForestry AideForestry Technician (Forestry Tech)Resource TechnicianBiological Science AideTimber Appraiser
More job titles for this occupation (14)
Conservation AgentConservation OfficerConservation TechnicianField Technician (Field Tech)Forester AideForestry Aid TechnicianForestry Aide TechnicianGrazing AideGrazing ExaminerNatural Resources TechnicianPark Technician (Park Tech)Range TechnicianTimber Management TechnicianTimber Sale Preparation Forestry Technician (Timber Sale Preparation Forestry Tech)

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.