Forest and Conservation Workers
SOC code 45-4011 · O*NET-SOC 45-4011.00 · Little to some preparation needed
Forest and Conservation Workers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$43,680
a year
Hourly
$21.00
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$43,680
$21.00 per hour
Middle 50%
$37,440 – $45,760
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$33,780 – $57,220
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
6,050
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $33,780
- $16.24/hr
- 25th percentile
- $37,440
- $18.00/hr
- Median percentile
- $43,680
- $21.00/hr
- 75th percentile
- $45,760
- $22.00/hr
- 90th percentile
- $57,220
- $27.51/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
-5%
Declining
10,800
jobs in 2024
10,300
projected for 2034
About 500 fewer jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do forest and conservation workers 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.
The tasks that matter most day to 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.
- Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking or measuring efforts.
- Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
- Explain or enforce regulations regarding camping, vehicle use, fires, use of buildings, or sanitation.
- Operate skidders, bulldozers, or other prime movers to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated.
- Spray or inject vegetation with insecticides to kill insects or to protect against disease or with herbicides to reduce competing vegetation.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 44% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)44%
- Bachelor's Degree23%
- Master's Degree20%
- Some College Courses7%
Common questions
How much does a forest and conservation workers earn?
The national median is $43,680 a year. The full range runs from $33,780 at the 10th percentile to $57,220 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a forest and conservation workers without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Is forest and conservation workers in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to shrink by about 5% between 2024 and 2034 — declining. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Reading Comprehension3.0/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Active Learning3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security3.5/5
- English Language3.5/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.2/5
- Administration and Management3.2/5
- Geography3.0/5
- Biology3.0/5
- Communications and Media2.9/5
- Transportation2.9/5
Transferable strengths: Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management.