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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

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)
5,750 5.1 % $ 17.72 $ 36,860 1.0 %

Percentile wage estimates for Forest and Conservation Workers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 13.75 $ 15.00 $ 16.32 $ 19.28 $ 24.26
Annual Wage (2) $ 28,600 $ 31,200 $ 33,940 $ 40,100 $ 50,450


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) 2,890 0.14 $ 16.46 $ 34,240
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) 1,290 0.02 $ 19.30 $ 40,140
Social Advocacy Organizations 580 0.23 $ 19.11 $ 39,750
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions 210 0.13 $ 21.71 $ 45,160
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations 40 0.01 $ 19.60 $ 40,760

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 580 0.23 $ 19.11 $ 39,750
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) 2,890 0.14 $ 16.46 $ 34,240
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions 210 0.13 $ 21.71 $ 45,160
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) 1,290 0.02 $ 19.30 $ 40,140
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations 40 0.01 $ 19.60 $ 40,760

Top paying industries for Forest and Conservation Workers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions 210 0.13 $ 21.71 $ 45,160
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations 40 0.01 $ 19.60 $ 40,760
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) 1,290 0.02 $ 19.30 $ 40,140
Social Advocacy Organizations 580 0.23 $ 19.11 $ 39,750
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) 2,890 0.14 $ 16.46 $ 34,240


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 2023


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 2,170 0.12 3.19 $ 16.18 $ 33,660
South Dakota 600 1.34 35.48 $ 17.57 $ 36,550
Georgia 350 0.07 1.97 $ 17.56 $ 36,530
Wisconsin 250 0.09 2.31 $ 17.39 $ 36,180
Tennessee 220 0.07 1.82 $ 13.68 $ 28,460


Map of location quotient of forest and conservation workers by state, May 2023


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 600 1.34 35.48 $ 17.57 $ 36,550
Delaware 180 0.39 10.18 $ 16.83 $ 35,010
New Mexico 150 0.18 4.64 $ 16.85 $ 35,050
Hawaii 90 0.14 3.76 $ 21.83 $ 45,400
California 2,170 0.12 3.19 $ 16.18 $ 33,660


Map of annual mean wages of forest and conservation workers by state, May 2023


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)
Oregon 30 0.02 0.42 $ 25.15 $ 52,320
Pennsylvania 180 0.03 0.79 $ 24.59 $ 51,150
Hawaii 90 0.14 3.76 $ 21.83 $ 45,400
New Jersey 90 0.02 0.59 $ 21.72 $ 45,170
Florida (8) (8) (8) $ 21.44 $ 44,590



Map of employment of forest and conservation workers by area, May 2023


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)
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 320 0.30 8.00 $ 15.97 $ 33,210
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 310 0.05 1.32 $ 15.90 $ 33,080
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 220 0.08 2.03 $ 17.78 $ 36,980
Sioux Falls, SD 120 0.74 19.61 $ 17.39 $ 36,170
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 120 0.04 1.09 $ 17.91 $ 37,240
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 90 0.06 1.46 $ 15.40 $ 32,030
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 60 0.01 0.34 $ 30.50 $ 63,430
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 50 0.02 0.50 $ 18.23 $ 37,910
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 50 0.02 0.56 $ 27.80 $ 57,820
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 40 0.00 0.12 $ 23.09 $ 48,020


Map of location quotient of forest and conservation workers by area, May 2023


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 120 0.74 19.61 $ 17.39 $ 36,170
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI 30 0.42 11.09 $ 20.79 $ 43,250
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 320 0.30 8.00 $ 15.97 $ 33,210
Salinas, CA 40 0.20 5.32 $ 17.86 $ 37,150
Knoxville, TN 30 0.08 2.17 $ 12.78 $ 26,580
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 220 0.08 2.03 $ 17.78 $ 36,980
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 90 0.06 1.46 $ 15.40 $ 32,030
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 310 0.05 1.32 $ 15.90 $ 33,080
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 120 0.04 1.09 $ 17.91 $ 37,240
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 30 0.03 0.76 $ 24.25 $ 50,450


Map of annual mean wages of forest and conservation workers by area, May 2023


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 60 0.01 0.34 $ 30.50 $ 63,430
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 50 0.02 0.56 $ 27.80 $ 57,820
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 30 0.03 0.76 $ 24.25 $ 50,450
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 40 0.00 0.12 $ 23.09 $ 48,020
Toledo, OH (8) (8) (8) $ 21.69 $ 45,120
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI 30 0.42 11.09 $ 20.79 $ 43,250
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 50 0.02 0.50 $ 18.23 $ 37,910
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 30 0.01 0.29 $ 18.13 $ 37,700
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 120 0.04 1.09 $ 17.91 $ 37,240
Salinas, CA 40 0.20 5.32 $ 17.86 $ 37,150

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 250 1.90 50.25 $ 17.40 $ 36,200
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area 210 1.95 51.55 $ 15.61 $ 32,470
West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 190 3.09 81.60 $ 17.38 $ 36,160
Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 110 1.37 36.13 $ 16.89 $ 35,120
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 60 0.32 8.38 $ 18.36 $ 38,190

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 3.09 81.60 $ 17.38 $ 36,160
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area 210 1.95 51.55 $ 15.61 $ 32,470
East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 250 1.90 50.25 $ 17.40 $ 36,200
Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 110 1.37 36.13 $ 16.89 $ 35,120
Northeast South Carolina nonmetropolitan area 50 0.49 13.06 $ 14.20 $ 29,530

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)
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area 40 0.38 10.15 $ 23.23 $ 48,320
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 60 0.32 8.38 $ 18.36 $ 38,190
Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 30 0.23 6.05 $ 17.41 $ 36,210
East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 250 1.90 50.25 $ 17.40 $ 36,200
West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 190 3.09 81.60 $ 17.38 $ 36,160


About May 2023 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 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024