Studies snowpack and weather to forecast avalanche danger for backcountry users, highways, ski areas, and mines. BLS does not publish separate figures for forest and conservation technicians; it counts them within forest and conservation technician (SOC 19-4071), whose median pay is $54,560 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
- SOC 19-4071
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Avalanche Forecaster in four numbers
- Median pay
- $54,560a year, or $26.23/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $40KTop 10% $84K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -2.1%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−2.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −2.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3,80032,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202532.8K
- Projected 203532.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 32.8K Projected 2035 32.2K - Typical education
- Associate'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school35.3%
- Certificate4.6%
- Some college10.4%
- Associate's34.9%
- Bachelor's14%
- Post-bacc certificate0.8%
Highest education held by forest and conservation technicians Segment Value High school 35.3% Certificate 4.6% Some college 10.4% Associate's 34.9% Bachelor's 14% Post-bacc certificate 0.8%
Also advertised as: Snow Safety Director, Avalanche Specialist, Highway Avalanche Forecaster, Snow Safety Technician, Avalanche Center Forecaster.
Pay
How much do Forest and Conservation Technicians make?
Every avalanche forecaster in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$54,560
Middle half earn $47,360 to $68,600
- 10th
- $40,330
- 25th
- $47,360
- 75th
- $68,600
- 90th
- $83,630
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,330 |
| 25th | $47,360 |
| Median | $54,560 |
| 75th | $68,600 |
| 90th | $83,630 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $54,560
- Median hourly wage
- $26.23/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $59,060
- People employed
- 30,410
Versus all US occupations
At $54,560, Forest and Conservation Technicians earn 7% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $3,580 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 34% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $83,630 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,330, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 27% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
North Dakota pays the most at $68,600, and still leads at $77,114 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Forest and Conservation Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1North Dakota | $68,600 | $77,114 | 160 |
| 2Alaska | $68,160 | $66,589 | 500 |
| 3Maryland | $64,980 | $61,910 | 130 |
| 4Wisconsin | $62,700 | $66,635 | 620 |
| 5Louisiana | $59,370 | $67,308 | 210 |
| 6Minnesota | $58,990 | $59,815 | 580 |
| 7California | $58,120 | $52,493 | 6,640 |
| 8New York | $58,030 | $53,771 | 190 |
| 9Colorado | $57,550 | $55,846 | 1,040 |
| 10Pennsylvania | $57,370 | $58,798 | 420 |
Job outlook
Is Avalanche Forecaster a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -2.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | −2.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Forest and Conservation Technicians to change -2.1% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 700 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 3,800 openings are projected each year, 11.6% of the 32,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Avalanche Forecaster
Most forecasters have years of backcountry experience and professional avalanche training. The American Avalanche Association (A3) professional track includes the Pro 1 and Pro 2 courses, which require prior recreational avalanche training, operational seasons, and documented experience. Many forecasters start as ski patrollers, guides, or observers before moving into forecasting.
A bachelor's degree in geoscience, atmospheric science, or a related field is common, especially for agency positions, and some forecasters hold graduate degrees in snow science from programs such as Montana State University. Wilderness First Responder training is often expected.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Associate's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as forest and conservation technicians.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)35.3%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree34.9%
- Bachelor's Degree14%
- Some College Courses10.4%
- Post-Secondary Certificate4.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 35.3% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 34.9% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 14% |
| Some College Courses | 10.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 4.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Avalanche Forecaster do?
Avalanche forecasters assess how likely avalanches are and how large they could be. They dig snow pits, run stability tests, record snowfall, wind, and temperature data, and collect observations from the field and from the public. They combine that information to publish danger ratings and avalanche problem descriptions.
Forecasters work for regional avalanche centers, many partnered with the U.S. Forest Service, publishing daily forecasts for backcountry skiers, snowmobilers, and climbers. Others work for state transportation departments, deciding when to close highways and conduct avalanche control, or for ski areas and mines where they direct explosive control work.
Day-to-day tasks
- Dig snow pits and run stability tests
- Record weather, snowfall, and snowpack observations
- Analyze weather station and remote data
- Publish daily avalanche danger ratings and forecasts
- Recommend highway closures or control work
- Investigate avalanche accidents and document events
- Teach avalanche awareness classes to the public
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Forecasters split time between offices and the field, traveling into avalanche terrain on skis or snowmobiles to collect data in cold and storms. Mornings start very early so forecasts are published before people head out. The job is seasonal at many centers, and summers may be spent on research or other work.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.4
- Speaking3.3
- Monitoring3.1
- Writing3.0
- Active Learning3.0
- Learning Strategies3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.4 |
| Speaking | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Writing | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Time Management3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Coordination3.1
- Instructing3.1
- Service Orientation3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Systems Analysis3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Avalanche Forecaster?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code IRC) built on O*NET's Forest and Conservation Technician profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Avalanche Forecaster |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Realistic6.5
- Investigative5.0
- Conventional4.9
- Social2.8
- Enterprising2.5
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Avalanche Forecaster
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Protective Service
Forest Fire Inspector and Prevention Specialist
$56,870median a year
Most earn $35K to $105K
+13.1%High school
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with forest and conservation technicians highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
- Avalanche Forecaster$54,560
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
| Avalanche Forecaster | $54,560 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Avalanche Forecaster appears on
Questions
Avalanche Forecaster: frequently asked questions
How much do Forest and Conservation Technicians make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for forest and conservation technicians. It counts them within forest and conservation technician, whose median pay is $54,560 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $47,360 and $68,600, and the top 10% earn $83,630 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Avalanche Forecaster?
Usually a two-year degree rather than a four-year one. BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry-level education for Forest and Conservation Technicians. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 35.3% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Avalanche Forecaster a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 2.1% over 2025–2035, a loss of 700 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 3,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Avalanche Forecaster do?
Avalanche forecasters assess how likely avalanches are and how large they could be. A typical task: dig snow pits and run stability tests. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Geographic information system.
Which states pay Forest and Conservation Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Forest and Conservation Technicians are North Dakota ($68,600), Alaska ($68,160), Maryland ($64,980) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Avalanche Forecaster?
O*NET scores Forest and Conservation Technicians highest on the Realistic, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.