All About Forest and Conservation Workers
Forest and Conservation Worker Example 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.
Forest and Conservation Worker Responsibilities
- Operate skidders, bulldozers, or other prime movers to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated.
- Sow or harvest cover crops, such as alfalfa.
- Identify diseased or undesirable trees and remove them, using power saws or hand saws.
- Select or cut trees according to markings or sizes, types, or grades.
- Examine and grade trees according to standard charts and staple color-coded grade tags to limbs.
- Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
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Forest and Conservation Worker Required Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Forest and Conservation Workers say are important on the job.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Timber Deadener
- Greens Picker
- Tree Scout
- Woodsman
- Tar Heel
Are There Job Opportunities for Forest and Conservation Workers?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 14,300 jobs in the United States for Forest and Conservation Worker. 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.
Salary for 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.
How much do Forest and Conservation Workers make 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 |
What Tools & Technology do Forest and Conservation Workers Use?
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 to Become a Forest and Conservation Worker
Learn what Forest and Conservation Worker education requirements there are.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Forest and Conservation Worker?

Where Forest and Conservation Workers Work

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
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.
Featured Schools
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