Plans, lays out, and builds sustainable hiking, biking, and multi-use trails for parks, forests, and communities. 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
Trail Designer 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: Trail Builder, Trail Crew Leader, Trails Specialist, Mountain Bike Trail Designer, Trail Planner.
Pay
How much do Forest and Conservation Technicians make?
Every trail designer 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 Trail Designer 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 a Trail Designer
Many trail designers start on trail crews with conservation corps, the Forest Service, or nonprofits, learning construction techniques in the field. A degree in natural resources, forestry, landscape architecture, or recreation management helps for agency and planning roles.
The Professional TrailBuilders Association (PTBA) represents trail construction firms and offers training and resources, and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) publishes trail design guidance and runs trail building schools. Forest Service trail standards and courses in trail construction and maintenance are widely used.
- 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 a Trail Designer do?
Trail designers figure out where a trail should go and how to build it so it lasts. They scout terrain, flag routes, and design grades, drainage, and features that shed water and resist erosion. For mountain bike trails they also design flow, jumps, and technical features matched to rider skill levels.
They then lead crews that build the trail with hand tools and small machines such as mini excavators, and they plan structures like bridges, rock armoring, and retaining walls. Trail designers work for land agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and state parks, conservation corps, and private trail construction firms hired by cities, resorts, and land trusts.
Day-to-day tasks
- Scout terrain and flag proposed trail routes
- Design trail grades, drainage, and features
- Lead trail construction crews with hand tools and small machines
- Build bridges, rock armoring, and retaining structures
- Assess existing trails for erosion and maintenance needs
- Prepare plans and environmental documentation for land agencies
- Coordinate with land managers, volunteers, and user groups
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Trail designers work outdoors in all kinds of terrain and weather, often in remote areas for days at a time. The work is physical, involving hiking, digging, and operating small machines. Projects are seasonal in snowy regions, with planning and design work in winter.
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 a Trail Designer?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RIA) built on O*NET's Forest and Conservation Technician profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Trail Designer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| 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
- Investigative4.8
- Conventional4.7
- Social2.8
- Enterprising2.5
- Artistic2.3
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 Trail Designer
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
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- 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
- Trail Designer$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 |
| Trail Designer | $54,560 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Trail Designer appears on
Questions
Trail Designer: 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 a Trail Designer?
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 Trail Designer 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 a Trail Designer do?
Trail designers figure out where a trail should go and how to build it so it lasts. A typical task: scout terrain and flag proposed trail routes. 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 a Trail Designer?
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.