Forest and Conservation Workers
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 earn a median of $21.00/hr — about $43,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $16.24/hr; the top 10% earn $27.51/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- 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.
- Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.
- Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
- Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking or measuring efforts.
- Explain or enforce regulations regarding camping, vehicle use, fires, use of buildings, or sanitation.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
The feel of the work
Much of the work happens outdoors. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 15.1% of forest and conservation workers are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are hands-on, organized and detail-focused and analytical.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
- Agricultural Equipment Operators
- Log Graders and Scalers
- Agricultural Workers, All Other
- Logging Equipment Operators
- Agricultural Inspectors
- Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
Quick questions
- How much does a forest and conservation worker make?
- The median pay is $21.00 per hour — roughly $43,500 a year, with the real range running from about $16.24/hr (10th percentile) to $27.51/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a forest and conservation worker?
- The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
- What does a forest and conservation worker actually do all day?
- 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. Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.
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