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What Does it Take to Be a Forest and Conservation Worker?
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.
Life As a Forest and Conservation Worker
- Sort tree seedlings, discarding substandard seedlings, according to standard charts or verbal instructions.
- Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.
- Spray or inject vegetation with insecticides to kill insects or to protect against disease or with herbicides to reduce competing vegetation.
- Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
- Provide assistance to forest survey crews by clearing site-lines, holding measuring tools, or setting stakes.
- Sow or harvest cover crops, such as alfalfa.
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What Every Forest and Conservation Worker Should Know
Forest and Conservation Workers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
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.
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.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Forest and Conservation Worker Jobs
- Park Maintainer
- Tree Tapping Laborer
- Timber Deadener
- Seedling Puller
- Tree Climber
Forest and Conservation Worker Job Outlook
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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,100 job openings in this field each 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.
What is the Average Salary of a Forest and Conservation Worker
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.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Forest and Conservation Workers 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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Forest and Conservation Workers
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 do I Become a Forest and Conservation Worker?
Individuals working as a Forest and Conservation Worker have obtained the following education levels:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Forest and Conservation Workers Sector
The table below shows the approximate number of Forest and Conservation Workers employed by various industries.
Similar Careers
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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