Forest and conservation workers held about 13,900 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of forest and conservation workers were as follows:
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 26% |
| Support activities for agriculture and forestry | 12 |
| Self-employed workers | 12 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 12 |
| Forestry | 10 |
Forest and conservation workers work mainly in the western and southeastern areas of the United States, where there are many national and state forests, and on private forests and parks.
Forest and conservation workers work outdoors, sometimes in remote locations and in all types of weather. Workers use proper safety measures and equipment, such as hardhats, protective eyewear, and safety clothing.
Most of these jobs are physically demanding. Forest and conservation workers may have to walk long distances through densely wooded areas and carry their equipment with them.
Injuries and Illnesses
Forest and conservation workers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. The work may be especially dangerous for those whose primary duties involve fire suppression. To protect against injury, forest and conservation workers must wear special gear and follow prescribed safety procedures.
Work Schedules
Many forest and conservation workers are employed full time and work regular hours. Responding to an emergency may require workers to work additional hours and at any time of day.
Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma before they begin working. Most workers receive training on the job.
Education
Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma and a valid driver’s license before they begin working. Some vocational and technical schools and community colleges offer courses leading to a 2-year technical degree in forestry. The programs typically offer courses in forest management technology, wildlife management, conservation, or timber harvesting. Programs that include field trips to watch and participate in forestry activities provide particularly good background knowledge.
Training
Entry-level forest and conservation workers generally get on-the-job training as they help more experienced workers. They do routine labor-intensive tasks, such as planting or thinning trees. When the opportunity arises, they learn from experienced technicians and foresters who do more complex tasks, such as gathering data. Workers also learn safety procedures, including how to operate equipment safely and how to maintain safety gear.
In addition, some states require that crews and individuals receive training, and sometimes a license, in the use of commercial pesticides. For more information, consult states’ Departments of Agriculture.
Advancement
To advance their careers and become forest and conservation technicians or foresters, forest and conservation workers usually need an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in forestry or a related field.
Forest and conservation workers typically have an interest in the Building, Thinking and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.
If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Thinking or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a forest and conservation worker, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Forest and conservation workers should also possess the following specific qualities:
Communication skills. Forest and conservation workers must convey information effectively to technicians and other workers.
Decision-making skills. Forest and conservation workers must make quick, intelligent decisions, especially when they face dangerous conditions.
Detail oriented. Forest and conservation workers must watch gauges, dials, or other indicators to determine whether equipment and tools are working properly. Workers must follow safety procedures with precision.
Listening skills. Forest and conservation workers must give full attention to what their superiors are saying. They must understand the instructions they are given before performing tasks.
Physical stamina. Forest and conservation workers must plant trees and repeatedly perform a variety of physical tasks. They must also be able to walk long distances through densely wooded areas and carry heavy packs with them.
The median annual wage for forest and conservation workers was $31,770 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,770, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $46,870.
In May 2019, the median annual wages for forest and conservation workers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | $33,360 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 31,770 |
Many forest and conservation workers are employed full time and work regular hours. Responding to an emergency may require workers to work additional hours and at any time of day.
Employment of forest and conservation workers is projected to decline 3 percent from 2018 to 2028. Although demand for forestry products and services will likely be steady, it is expected to be counteracted by the automation of much of the work that these workers do.
New technologies, such as remote sensing, allow fewer workers to perform certain tasks, such as tree counts and tree identifications. As the automation of manual forest tasks continues, fewer of these workers will be needed to perform the same amount of work.
Despite heightened international demand for U.S. timber and wood pellets that will continue to demand forest and conservation workers, improved technology will also lessen the need for workers to perform certain tasks.
There is likely to be an increase in wildfires caused by unpredictable climate conditions and overgrown vegetation on forest lands. This rise in the number of wildfires would in turn increase demand for the fire suppression activities of forest and conservation workers. Most employment activities for forest and conservation workers is likely to be in state-owned forest lands. As more people continue to build homes in western forests, there will be need for workers to protect those areas from fires.
Job Prospects
Workers who follow standard safety procedures, remain physically fit, and work well on teams will have the best job opportunities.
For information about forestry careers and about schools offering education in forestry, visit
For information about careers in forestry, particularly conservation forestry and land management, visit
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture