Forest and conservation technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,330 | $19.39 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $54,560 | $26.23 |
| Mean (average) | $59,060 | $28.39 |
| 90th percentile | $83,630 | $40.21 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Forest and conservation technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 45 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $56,720 | $41,260 | $76,160 | 180 | 0.43 |
| Alaska | $68,160 | $50,290 | $97,820 | 500 | 7.88 |
| Arizona | $56,660 | $43,660 | $81,720 | 1,310 | 2.07 |
| Arkansas | $53,290 | $40,330 | $80,750 | 310 | 1.2 |
| California | $58,120 | $43,680 | $91,480 | 6,640 | 1.87 |
| Colorado | $57,550 | $44,950 | $84,150 | 1,040 | 1.86 |
| Florida | $52,420 | $33,760 | $80,750 | 380 | 0.19 |
| Georgia | $50,710 | $36,440 | $77,540 | 230 | 0.24 |
| Hawaii | $50,040 | $40,800 | $73,020 | 140 | 1.14 |
| Idaho | $53,290 | $43,660 | $84,120 | 2,020 | 12.06 |
| Illinois | $52,790 | $36,950 | $74,390 | 820 | 0.69 |
| Indiana | $48,660 | $34,190 | $74,010 | 150 | 0.25 |
| Iowa | $52,000 | $35,960 | $67,970 | 380 | 1.25 |
| Kansas | $41,660 | $31,260 | $70,080 | 170 | 0.59 |
| Kentucky | $43,660 | $31,770 | $70,580 | 240 | 0.62 |
| Louisiana | $59,370 | $43,660 | $89,510 | 210 | 0.57 |
| Maryland | $64,980 | $46,780 | $78,540 | 130 | 0.25 |
| Massachusetts | $56,480 | $51,730 | $72,130 | ||
| Michigan | $45,760 | $35,360 | $73,630 | 560 | 0.65 |
| Minnesota | $58,990 | $44,870 | $81,320 | 580 | 1.01 |
| Mississippi | $52,420 | $39,790 | $78,500 | 250 | 1.08 |
| Missouri | $33,920 | $31,200 | $66,080 | 600 | 1.05 |
| Montana | $52,420 | $41,660 | $80,540 | 1,760 | 17.64 |
| Nebraska | $51,630 | $45,260 | $78,460 | 100 | 0.48 |
| Nevada | $54,230 | $35,930 | $89,340 | 750 | 2.49 |
| New Hampshire | $51,630 | $41,660 | $86,360 | 60 | 0.46 |
| New Mexico | $53,000 | $43,660 | $82,560 | 880 | 5.18 |
| New York | $58,030 | $39,040 | $78,370 | 190 | 0.1 |
| North Carolina | $48,360 | $39,100 | $71,410 | 650 | 0.67 |
| North Dakota | $68,600 | $44,950 | $71,120 | 160 | 1.91 |
| Ohio | $48,840 | $37,080 | $64,860 | 230 | 0.21 |
| Oklahoma | $53,930 | $38,880 | $76,400 | 130 | 0.4 |
| Oregon | $55,910 | $43,660 | $82,990 | 2,530 | 6.58 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,370 | $44,950 | $76,940 | 420 | 0.36 |
| South Carolina | $55,910 | $40,800 | $84,120 | 180 | 0.4 |
| South Dakota | $54,770 | $43,530 | $82,990 | 350 | 3.87 |
| Tennessee | $47,940 | $41,660 | $68,140 | 390 | 0.61 |
| Texas | $52,200 | $41,780 | $66,710 | 600 | 0.22 |
| Utah | $47,940 | $32,530 | $79,310 | 1,140 | 3.35 |
| Vermont | $54,160 | $41,660 | $84,120 | 50 | 0.89 |
| Virginia | $49,960 | $38,660 | $75,130 | 380 | 0.47 |
| Washington | $54,160 | $44,950 | $82,530 | 1,160 | 1.67 |
| West Virginia | $54,600 | $40,330 | $83,780 | 100 | 0.71 |
| Wisconsin | $62,700 | $41,600 | $81,280 | 620 | 1.07 |
| Wyoming | $53,290 | $43,660 | $84,800 | 560 | 10.27 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for forest and conservation technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.1%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for forest and conservation technicians
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Natural Resources/Conservation, General CIP 03.0101
- Environmental Science CIP 03.0104
- Forestry, General CIP 03.0501
- Forest Resources Production and Management CIP 03.0510
- Forest Technology/Technician CIP 03.0511
- Forestry, Other CIP 03.0599
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Thin and space trees and control weeds and undergrowth, using manual tools and chemicals, or supervise workers performing these tasks.
- Train and lead forest and conservation workers in seasonal activities, such as planting tree seedlings, putting out forest fires, and maintaining recreational facilities.
- Provide information about, and enforce, regulations, such as those concerning environmental protection, resource utilization, fire safety, and accident prevention.
- Patrol park or forest areas to protect resources and prevent damage.
- Map forest tract data using digital mapping systems.
Technology skills
- ESRI ArcGIS software (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Geographic information system GIS systems (in demand)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Allegro Landmark
- Assisi Compiler
- Assisi Forest
- Assisi Inventory
- Atterbury Consultants SuperAce
- Autodesk AutoCAD LT
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Instructing, Service Orientation.
Common job titles: Biological Science Aide, Forest Technician, Forestry Aide, Forestry Technician (Forestry Tech), Resource Technician, Timber Appraiser.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do forest and conservation technicians make?
The national median annual wage for forest and conservation technicians was $54,560 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $40,330 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $83,630. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do forest and conservation technicians need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is forest and conservation technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of forest and conservation technicians to change -2.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay forest and conservation technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were North Dakota ($68,600), Alaska ($68,160), Maryland ($64,980). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.