Forest and Conservation Workers

Summary

Forest and conservation workers measure and improve the quality of forests.

Quick Facts: Forest and Conservation Workers
2023 Median Pay	$33,940 per year $16.32 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education	High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2023	10,900
Job Outlook, 2023-33	-4% (Decline)
Employment Change, 2023-33	-400

What Forest and Conservation Workers Do

Forest and conservation workers perform physical labor to improve the quality of natural areas such as forests, rangelands, and wetlands.

Work Environment

Forest and conservation workers often work outdoors, sometimes in remote locations and in all types of weather. Most forest and conservation workers are employed full time, although part-time or seasonal work is common.

How to Become a Forest and Conservation Worker

Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation and receive on-the-job training to attain competency.

Pay

The median annual wage for forest and conservation workers was $33,940 in May 2023.

Job Outlook

Employment of forest and conservation workers is projected to decline 4 percent from 2023 to 2033.

Despite declining employment, about 2,100 openings for forest and conservation workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for forest and conservation workers.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of forest and conservation workers with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about forest and conservation workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Forest and Conservation Workers Do About this section

Forest and conservation workers count trees during tree-measuring efforts.

Forest and conservation workers improve the quality of forests, rangelands, and wetlands. Under the supervision of conservation scientists and foresters, they develop, maintain, and protect forests.

Duties

Forest and conservation workers typically do the following:

• Plant seedlings to reforest land
• Clear brush and debris from trails, roadsides, and camping areas
• Count and measure trees during tree-measuring efforts
• Select or cut trees according to markings, sizes, types, or grades
• Protect plants from disease by spraying trees or injecting vegetation with insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides
• Identify and remove diseased or undesirable plant life or trees
• Help prevent and suppress forest fires
• Maintain equipment to ensure that it operates properly

Forest and conservation workers do physical tasks to maintain and improve the quality of a forest. They use a variety of equipment, including digging and planting tools to plant seedlings and power saws to cut down diseased trees.

Some work on tree farms or orchards, where their duties include planting and cultivating many kinds of trees. Their duties vary with the type of farm and may include planting seedlings or spraying to control weeds and insects.

Some forest and conservation workers are employed by forest nurseries, where they sort through tree seedlings, discarding the ones that do not meet standards. Others gather woodland products, such as decorative greenery, tree cones, moss, and other wild plant life. Still others tap trees to make syrup or chemicals.

Forest and conservation workers who are employed by or are under contract with government agencies may clear brush and debris from trails, roadsides, and camping areas. They may clean restrooms and other public facilities at recreational sites and campgrounds.

These workers also may help to suppress forest fires. For example, they may construct firebreaks, which are gaps in vegetation that can help slow or stop the progress of a fire. They also sometimes respond to forest emergencies.

Forest and conservation workers are supervised by conservation scientists and foresters, who direct their work and evaluate progress.

Work Environment About this section

Forest and conservation workers work outdoors, sometimes in remote locations and in all types of weather.

Forest and conservation workers held about 10,900 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of forest and conservation workers were as follows:

Forest and conservation workers work outdoors, sometimes in remote locations and in all types of weather. Workers may wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as hardhats, safety glasses, and coveralls.

Their work is often physically demanding. In addition, forest and conservation workers may have to walk long distances through dense woods while carrying heavy equipment.

Injuries and Illnesses

Forest and conservation workers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. The work may be especially dangerous for those whose primary duties involve fire suppression. To protect against injury, forest and conservation workers must wear PPE and follow safety procedures.

Work Schedules

Most forest and conservation workers are employed full time, although part-time or seasonal work is common. Responding to an emergency may require workers to work additional hours at any time of day.

How to Become a Forest and Conservation Worker About this section

Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma before they begin working.

Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation and receive on-the-job training to attain competency.

Education

Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation and a valid driver’s license before they begin working. Some students take postsecondary courses in forestry and conservation topics, such as forest ecology, wildlife management, or resource conservation.

Training

After they are hired, forest and conservation workers typically get on-the-job training. They help experienced workers with labor-intensive tasks, such as planting or thinning trees. They also learn how to operate and maintain equipment safely.

In addition, some states may require that crews and individuals receive training, and sometimes a license, in the use of commercial pesticides. For more information, consult states’ agriculture department.

Advancement

To advance their careers and become forest and conservation technicians or conservation scientists or foresters, forest and conservation workers typically need an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, or a related field.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Forest and conservation workers must convey information to foresters and conservation scientists and other workers.

Decision-making skills. Forest and conservation workers must make judgments and act quickly, especially when conditions are dangerous.

Detail oriented. Forest and conservation workers must observe gauges, dials, and other indicators to ensure that equipment works properly. They also must be precise in following safety procedures.

Listening skills. Forest and conservation workers must understand the instructions they receive before performing tasks.

Physical stamina. Forest and conservation workers perform a variety of strenuous tasks. They also must be able to walk long distances through dense woods, often while carrying heavy equipment.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage for forest and conservation workers was $33,940 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,600, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $50,450.

In May 2023, the median annual wages for forest and conservation workers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Most forest and conservation workers are employed full time, although part-time or seasonal work is common. Responding to an emergency may require workers to work additional hours at any time of day.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of forest and conservation workers is projected to decline 4 percent from 2023 to 2033.

Despite declining employment, about 2,100 openings for forest and conservation workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Automation of forest and conservation workers’ tasks is expected to reduce employment demand over the projections decade.

Despite heightened demand for U.S. timber and wood pellets, improved technology will lessen the need for forest and conservation workers to do certain tasks. For example, remote sensing allows fewer workers to count and identify trees. As automation of manual forestry tasks continues, fewer of these workers will be needed to do the same amount of work.

However, a rise in the number of wildfires may create some demand for the fire suppression activities of forest and conservation workers, especially in state-owned forest lands. As more people continue to build homes in western forests, there will be a need for workers to protect those areas from fires.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

• Forest and conservation workers

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For information about forestry and conservation careers and about schools offering education in forestry and conservation, visit

Society of American Foresters (SAF)

Student Conservation Association (SCA)

The Wildlife Society (TWS)

For information about careers in forestry, particularly conservation forestry and land management, visit

Forest Stewards Guild

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

Society for Range Management (SRM)

U.S. Forest Service

O*NET

Forest and Conservation Workers