Forest and Conservation Workers earn a median of $43,680 per year ($21.00/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 1.5% through 2035, with about 2,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 45-4011
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Forest and Conservation Worker in four numbers
- Median pay
- $43,680a year, or $21.00/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $34KTop 10% $57K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -1.5%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−1.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −1.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,20014,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202514.7K
- Projected 203514.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 14.7K Projected 2035 14.5K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school3.4%
- High school43.6%
- Certificate1.9%
- Some college6.5%
- Bachelor's22.6%
- Master's20.3%
Highest education held by forest and conservation workers Segment Value Less than high school 3.4% High school 43.6% Certificate 1.9% Some college 6.5% Bachelor's 22.6% Master's 20.3%
Also advertised as: Christmas Tree Farmer, Conservation Officer, Field Laborer, Forest Ranger, Forest Resource Specialist, Forestry Support Specialist.
Pay
How much do Forest and Conservation Workers make?
Every forest and conservation worker in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$43,680
Middle half earn $37,440 to $45,760
- 10th
- $33,780
- 25th
- $37,440
- 75th
- $45,760
- 90th
- $57,220
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $33,780 |
| 25th | $37,440 |
| Median | $43,680 |
| 75th | $45,760 |
| 90th | $57,220 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $43,680
- Median hourly wage
- $21.00/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $43,680
- People employed
- 6,050
Versus all US occupations
At $43,680, Forest and Conservation Workers earn 14% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $7,300 a year.
Versus farming, fishing, and forestry occupations
Inside the Farming, Fishing, and Forestry group, where the middle occupation pays $45,005, this is 3% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $57,220 or more while the bottom 10% earn $33,780, a gap of 1.7×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 10% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Idaho pays the most at $59,460, and still leads at $62,266 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Forest and Conservation Workers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Idaho | $59,460 | $62,266 | N/A |
| 2Hawaii | $56,330 | $51,232 | 60 |
| 3Virginia | $54,560 | $53,964 | N/A |
| 4Massachusetts | $51,890 | $49,065 | 120 |
| 5Pennsylvania | $50,250 | $51,500 | 210 |
| 6Ohio | $48,470 | $52,245 | 160 |
| 7Arkansas | $47,310 | $54,419 | 30 |
| 8Oregon | $46,010 | $44,514 | 70 |
| 9Washington | $44,430 | $41,518 | 460 |
| 10South Carolina | $44,050 | $46,987 | 40 |
Job outlook
Is Forest and Conservation Worker a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -1.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Forest and Conservation Workers | −1.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Forest and Conservation Workers to change -1.5% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 200 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,200 openings are projected each year, 15.0% of the 14,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Automation of forest and conservation workers’ tasks is expected to reduce employment demand over the projections decade.
Despite heightened demand for U.S. timber and wood pellets, improved technology will lessen the need for forest and conservation workers to do certain tasks. For example, remote sensing allows fewer workers to count and identify trees. As automation of manual forestry tasks continues, fewer of these workers will be needed to do the same amount of work.
However, a rise in the number of wildfires may create some demand for the fire suppression activities of forest and conservation workers, especially in state-owned forest lands. As more people continue to build homes in western forests, there will be a need for workers to protect those areas from fires.
Getting in
How to become a Forest and Conservation Worker
Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation and receive on-the-job training to attain competency.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no 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 workers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)43.6%
- Bachelor's Degree22.6%
- Master's Degree20.3%
- Some College Courses6.5%
- Less than a High School Diploma3.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 43.6% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 22.6% |
| Master's Degree | 20.3% |
| Some College Courses | 6.5% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 3.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Forest and Conservation Worker do?
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, tree planters, and gatherers of nontimber forestry products such as pine straw.
Forest and conservation workers improve the quality of forests, rangelands, and wetlands. Under the supervision of conservation scientists and foresters, they develop, maintain, and protect forests.
Day-to-day tasks
- Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
- Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.
- Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
- Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most forest and conservation workers are employed full time, although part-time or seasonal work is common. Responding to an emergency may require workers to work additional hours at any time of day.
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.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. 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.
Where forest and conservation workers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Self-employed workers27%
- State government, excluding education and hospitals21%
- Forestry16%
- Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations12%
- Support activities for agriculture and forestry10%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 27% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 21% |
| Forestry | 16% |
| Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | 12% |
| Support activities for agriculture and forestry | 10% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Active Learning3.0
- Writing2.6
- Learning Strategies2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.6 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Time Management2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Operations Monitoring2.8
- Operation and Control2.6
- Persuasion2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Operation and Control | 2.6 |
| Persuasion | 2.4 |
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
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Map creation 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 a Forest and Conservation Worker?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Forest and Conservation Worker |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 4 |
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 organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional4.1
- Investigative3.3
- Enterprising3.0
- Social2.7
- 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 Forest and Conservation Worker
O*NET related occupations
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- Life, Physical, and Social Science
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Forest Fire Inspector and Prevention Specialist
$56,870median a year
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+13.1%High school - Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
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More farming, fishing, and forestry careers
Median annual pay, with forest and conservation workers highlighted
- First-Line Supervisor of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$59,320
- Cannabis Cultivation Director$59,320
- Faller$52,100
- Animal Breeder$51,130
- Agricultural Inspector$49,940
- Logging Equipment Operator$49,740
- Forest and Conservation Worker$43,680
- Agricultural Equipment Operator$41,730
- Farmworker and Laborer, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisor of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $59,320 |
| Cannabis Cultivation Director | $59,320 |
| Faller | $52,100 |
| Animal Breeder | $51,130 |
| Agricultural Inspector | $49,940 |
| Logging Equipment Operator | $49,740 |
| Forest and Conservation Worker | $43,680 |
| Agricultural Equipment Operator | $41,730 |
| Farmworker and Laborer, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Forest and Conservation Worker appears on
Questions
Forest and Conservation Worker: frequently asked questions
How much do Forest and Conservation Workers make?
Forest and Conservation Workers earn a median of $43,680 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 14% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $21.00/hr. The middle half earn between $37,440 and $45,760. The top 10% earn $57,220 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Forest and Conservation Worker?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Forest and Conservation Workers. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 43.6% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Forest and Conservation Worker a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 1.5% over 2025–2035, a loss of 200 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Forest and Conservation Worker do?
Forest and conservation workers improve the quality of forests, rangelands, and wetlands. A core O*NET task: check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Geographic information system.
Which states pay Forest and Conservation Workers the most?
The highest state medians for Forest and Conservation Workers are Idaho ($59,460), Hawaii ($56,330), Virginia ($54,560) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Forest and Conservation Worker?
O*NET scores Forest and Conservation Workers highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with 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.