Careers / Forest and Conservation Technicians

Forest and Conservation Technicians — Career Decision Dashboard

United States

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Median annual wage

$54,560

United States, 2025

Employment

30,410

United States, 2025

Typical education

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)

Job Zone 3

Skills identified

35

10 related careers

Career overview

Provide technical assistance regarding the conservation of soil, water, forests, or related natural resources. May compile data pertaining to size, content, condition, and other characteristics of forest tracts under the direction of foresters, or train and lead forest workers in forest propagation and fire prevention and suppression. May assist conservation scientists in managing, improving, and protecting rangelands and wildlife habitats.

O*NET code
19-4071.00
Job zone
3
Experience required
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

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.
  • Keep records of the amount and condition of logs taken to mills.
  • Manage forest protection activities, including fire control, fire crew training, and coordination of fire detection and public education programs.
  • Monitor activities of logging companies and contractors.

Choose a location

Salary analysis — United States

$40,330
10th
$47,360
25th
$54,560
Median
$68,600
75th
$83,630
90th

10th percentile

$40,330

25th percentile

$47,360

75th percentile

$68,600

90th percentile

$83,630

Most important skills

  • Critical Thinking3.8
  • Active Listening3.8
  • Reading Comprehension3.4
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.3
  • Speaking3.3
  • Time Management3.3
  • Monitoring3.1
  • Coordination3.1
  • Instructing3.1
  • Social Perceptiveness3.1
  • Service Orientation3.0
  • Writing3.0

What skills do you need?

Select the skills you already have

Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.

Skill coverage

0%

0 of 16 identified skills

Matched

0

Missing

16

Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.

Skills to develop

SkillImportanceRequired levelYour levelGap
Active Listening3.83.8Not selected3.8
Critical Thinking3.83.4Not selected3.4
Reading Comprehension3.43.8Not selected3.8
Speaking3.33.5Not selected3.5
Monitoring3.13.6Not selected3.6
Judgment and Decision Making3.33.4Not selected3.4
Time Management3.33.3Not selected3.3
Coordination3.13.3Not selected3.3
Social Perceptiveness3.13.1Not selected3.1
Instructing3.13.0Not selected3.0
Writing3.03.1Not selected3.1
Active Learning3.03.0Not selected3.0
Learning Strategies3.03.0Not selected3.0
Systems Analysis3.03.0Not selected3.0
Complex Problem Solving3.03.0Not selected3.0
Service Orientation3.02.9Not selected2.9

Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.

Related careers

How salary varies by location

LocationMedianEmploymentYear
Baton Rouge, LA$87,500502025
Santa Rosa, CA$74,410902025
ND$68,6001602025
AK$68,1605002025
Carson City, NV$67,0401602025
Washington, DC$66,9301002025
Phoenix, AZ$65,6901502025
Sioux Falls, SD$65,670302025
MD$64,9801302025
Augusta, GA$64,940502025
Minneapolis, MN$64,4401302025
Asheville, NC$64,000402025
Harrisburg, PA$63,820502025
Boulder, CO$63,650502025
Milwaukee, WI$63,3001802025
Alexandria, LA$63,270502025
Riverside, CA$63,1505902025
Charleston, SC$63,040302025
WI$62,7006202025
San Francisco, CA$62,4001102025
All locations with published data

Career transition paths

Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Forest and Conservation Technicians to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.

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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0.

Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).

Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.