Forest and Conservation Technicians Career, Salary and Skills
Forest and Conservation Technicians have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $54,560 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 30,410. Wage data is published for 139 locations.
Occupation description
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
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
National salary and employment
Median annual
$54,560
Hourly median
$26.23
Employment
30,410
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.75 | 3.38 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.38 | 3.75 |
| Speaking | 3.25 | 3.50 |
| Time Management | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.62 |
| Coordination | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Instructing | 3.12 | 3.00 |
Typical 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.
- Thin and space trees and control weeds and undergrowth, using manual tools and chemicals, or supervise workers performing these tasks.
Technology
- Allegro Landmark
- Assisi Compiler
- Assisi Forest
- Assisi Inventory
- Atterbury Consultants SuperAce
- Autodesk AutoCAD LT
- Ben Meadows Yeoman Expedition
- Computer graphics software
- Corel Presentation
- Database software
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- ESRI ArcView
- Fire behavior modeling software
Forest and Conservation Technicians salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary in CAMedian $58,120 · Employment 6,640
- Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary in ORMedian $55,910 · Employment 2,530
- Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary in IDMedian $53,290 · Employment 2,020
- Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary in MTMedian $52,420 · Employment 1,760
- Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary in AZMedian $56,660 · Employment 1,310
- Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary in WAMedian $54,160 · Employment 1,160
- Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary in UTMedian $47,940 · Employment 1,140
- Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary in COMedian $57,550 · Employment 1,040
- Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary in NMMedian $53,000 · Employment 880
- Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary in ILMedian $52,790 · Employment 820
- Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary in NVMedian $54,230 · Employment 750
- Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary in NCMedian $48,360 · Employment 650
Related careers
- Hydrologic TechniciansNational median $64,790
- Water Resource SpecialistsNational median $167,220
- Environmental Compliance InspectorsNational median $80,730
- Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsNational median $90,150
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and TechniciansNational median $59,920
- Industrial EcologistsNational median $82,220
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersNational median $58,430
- Agricultural EngineersNational median $98,590
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.