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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

45-4011 Forest and Conservation Workers

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, tree planters, and gatherers of nontimber forestry products such as pine straw.


National estimates for Forest and Conservation Workers
Industry profile for Forest and Conservation Workers
Geographic profile for Forest and Conservation Workers

National estimates for Forest and Conservation Workers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Forest and Conservation Workers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
6,080 8.6 % $ 17.31 $ 36,010 1.8 %

Percentile wage estimates for Forest and Conservation Workers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 12.83 $ 15.00 $ 15.51 $ 19.08 $ 23.21
Annual Wage (2) $ 26,690 $ 31,200 $ 32,270 $ 39,690 $ 48,270


Industry profile for Forest and Conservation Workers:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Forest and Conservation Workers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Forest and Conservation Workers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Forest and Conservation Workers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 2,800 0.13 $ 16.61 $ 34,550
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 1,270 0.02 $ 18.50 $ 38,480
Social Advocacy Organizations 420 0.18 $ 19.11 $ 39,740
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions 210 0.14 $ 20.88 $ 43,440
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 40 0.01 $ 25.76 $ 53,570

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Forest and Conservation Workers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Social Advocacy Organizations 420 0.18 $ 19.11 $ 39,740
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions 210 0.14 $ 20.88 $ 43,440
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 2,800 0.13 $ 16.61 $ 34,550
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 1,270 0.02 $ 18.50 $ 38,480
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 40 0.01 $ 25.76 $ 53,570

Top paying industries for Forest and Conservation Workers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 40 0.01 $ 25.76 $ 53,570
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (8) (8) $ 20.92 $ 43,510
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions 210 0.14 $ 20.88 $ 43,440
Social Advocacy Organizations 420 0.18 $ 19.11 $ 39,740
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 1,270 0.02 $ 18.50 $ 38,480


Geographic profile for Forest and Conservation Workers:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Forest and Conservation Workers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Forest and Conservation Workers, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of forest and conservation workers by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Forest and Conservation Workers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 2,600 0.15 3.58 $ 16.07 $ 33,430
South Dakota 610 1.41 34.37 $ 15.99 $ 33,250
Wisconsin 280 0.10 2.39 $ 15.00 $ 31,190
Tennessee 210 0.07 1.60 $ 13.27 $ 27,610
Delaware 180 0.40 9.85 $ 16.53 $ 34,380


Map of location quotient of forest and conservation workers by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Forest and Conservation Workers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
South Dakota 610 1.41 34.37 $ 15.99 $ 33,250
Delaware 180 0.40 9.85 $ 16.53 $ 34,380
Hawaii 160 0.26 6.38 $ 19.75 $ 41,070
Idaho 160 0.20 4.81 $ 24.06 $ 50,040
California 2,600 0.15 3.58 $ 16.07 $ 33,430


Map of annual mean wages of forest and conservation workers by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Forest and Conservation Workers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Idaho 160 0.20 4.81 $ 24.06 $ 50,040
Arizona 40 0.01 0.31 $ 23.19 $ 48,220
Pennsylvania 160 0.03 0.69 $ 23.16 $ 48,180
Illinois (8) (8) (8) $ 22.69 $ 47,190
Washington 70 0.02 0.48 $ 21.59 $ 44,920



Map of employment of forest and conservation workers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Forest and Conservation Workers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 570 0.09 2.28 $ 15.52 $ 32,280
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 360 0.35 8.47 $ 15.71 $ 32,680
Sioux Falls, SD 140 0.84 20.44 $ 16.50 $ 34,320
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 130 0.08 1.86 $ 15.38 $ 31,990
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 120 0.04 1.01 $ 17.46 $ 36,310
Fresno, CA 80 0.21 5.04 $ 17.48 $ 36,360
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI 50 0.75 18.27 $ 19.38 $ 40,300
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 40 0.02 0.37 $ 19.22 $ 39,980
Madison, WI 40 0.11 2.58 $ 13.82 $ 28,740
Knoxville, TN 40 0.09 2.20 $ 12.35 $ 25,690


Map of location quotient of forest and conservation workers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Forest and Conservation Workers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Sioux Falls, SD 140 0.84 20.44 $ 16.50 $ 34,320
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI 50 0.75 18.27 $ 19.38 $ 40,300
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 360 0.35 8.47 $ 15.71 $ 32,680
Fresno, CA 80 0.21 5.04 $ 17.48 $ 36,360
Salinas, CA 30 0.18 4.27 $ 18.26 $ 37,970
Madison, WI 40 0.11 2.58 $ 13.82 $ 28,740
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA 30 0.10 2.36 $ 19.87 $ 41,320
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 570 0.09 2.28 $ 15.52 $ 32,280
Knoxville, TN 40 0.09 2.20 $ 12.35 $ 25,690
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 130 0.08 1.86 $ 15.38 $ 31,990


Map of annual mean wages of forest and conservation workers by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Forest and Conservation Workers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (8) (8) (8) $ 25.71 $ 53,480
Toledo, OH (8) (8) (8) $ 20.25 $ 42,120
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 40 0.00 0.10 $ 19.89 $ 41,380
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA 30 0.10 2.36 $ 19.87 $ 41,320
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI 50 0.75 18.27 $ 19.38 $ 40,300
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 40 0.02 0.37 $ 19.22 $ 39,980
Salinas, CA 30 0.18 4.27 $ 18.26 $ 37,970
Fresno, CA 80 0.21 5.04 $ 17.48 $ 36,360
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 120 0.04 1.01 $ 17.46 $ 36,310
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 40 0.01 0.28 $ 17.04 $ 35,450

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Forest and Conservation Workers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 260 1.96 47.77 $ 15.71 $ 32,690
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area 210 2.05 49.83 $ 15.39 $ 32,010
West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 190 3.12 75.86 $ 15.47 $ 32,180
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 90 1.26 30.64 $ 24.28 $ 50,500
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 70 0.37 8.95 $ 15.36 $ 31,940

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Forest and Conservation Workers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 190 3.12 75.86 $ 15.47 $ 32,180
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area 210 2.05 49.83 $ 15.39 $ 32,010
East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 260 1.96 47.77 $ 15.71 $ 32,690
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 90 1.26 30.64 $ 24.28 $ 50,500
Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 50 1.05 25.54 $ 14.87 $ 30,930

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Forest and Conservation Workers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 90 1.26 30.64 $ 24.28 $ 50,500
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area 60 0.57 13.94 $ 20.80 $ 43,250
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area 40 0.39 9.56 $ 17.16 $ 35,690
East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 260 1.96 47.77 $ 15.71 $ 32,690
West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 190 3.12 75.86 $ 15.47 $ 32,180


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023