What is a Forest and Conservation Technician?
Position Description Provide technical assistance regarding the conservation of soil, water, forests, or related natural resources. May compile data pertaining to size, content, condition, and other characteristics of forest tracts, under the direction of foresters; or train and lead forest workers in forest propagation, fire prevention and suppression. May assist conservation scientists in managing, improving, and protecting rangelands and wildlife habitats.
Daily Life Of a Conservation Technician
- Supervise forest nursery operations, timber harvesting, land use activities such as livestock grazing, and disease or insect control programs.
- Measure distances, clean sightlines, and record data to help survey crews.
- Manage forest protection activities, including fire control, fire crew training, and coordination of fire detection and public education programs.
- Provide information about, and enforce, regulations, such as those concerning environmental protection, resource utilization, fire safety, and accident prevention.
- Select and mark trees for thinning or logging, drawing detailed plans that include access roads.
- Issue fire permits, timber permits, and other forest use licenses.
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Things a Conservation Technician Should Know How to Do
Below is a list of the skills most Forest and Conservation Technicians say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Related Job Titles
- Grazing Aide
- Park Warden
- Resource Specialist
- Forest Technician
- Forestry Technician
Job Opportunities for Forest and Conservation Technicians
In the United States, there were 33,200 jobs for Forest and Conservation Technician in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 3.9% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,300 new jobs for Forest and Conservation Technician by 2026. The BLS estimates 4,000 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Conservation Technician are Nevada, Florida, and Louisiana. Watch out if you plan on working in Maryland, West Virginia, or Oklahoma. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Conservation Technician
The typical yearly salary for Forest and Conservation Technicians is somewhere between $26,600 and $57,700.
Forest and Conservation Technicians who work in Kansas, Pennsylvania, or Mississippi, make the highest salaries.
How much do Forest and Conservation Technicians make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $43,970 |
| Alaska | $47,830 |
| Arizona | $38,270 |
| Arkansas | $46,020 |
| California | $41,010 |
| Colorado | $39,120 |
| Connecticut | $47,150 |
| Florida | $46,050 |
| Georgia | $45,880 |
| Idaho | $37,950 |
| Illinois | $46,650 |
| Indiana | $37,980 |
| Iowa | $39,560 |
| Kansas | $46,180 |
| Kentucky | $37,620 |
| Louisiana | $43,890 |
| Maine | $47,270 |
| Maryland | $43,500 |
| Massachusetts | $47,530 |
| Michigan | $38,350 |
| Minnesota | $44,430 |
| Mississippi | $47,400 |
| Missouri | $43,780 |
| Montana | $37,100 |
| Nebraska | $44,990 |
| Nevada | $38,960 |
| New Hampshire | $39,130 |
| New Mexico | $37,480 |
| New York | $42,070 |
| North Carolina | $40,700 |
| North Dakota | $44,480 |
| Ohio | $40,190 |
| Oklahoma | $45,670 |
| Oregon | $40,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,170 |
| South Carolina | $45,500 |
| South Dakota | $37,530 |
| Tennessee | $38,120 |
| Texas | $43,880 |
| Utah | $33,750 |
| Vermont | $41,250 |
| Virginia | $42,080 |
| Washington | $39,900 |
| West Virginia | $41,100 |
| Wisconsin | $35,320 |
| Wyoming | $36,430 |
What Tools & Technology do Forest and Conservation Technicians Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Forest and Conservation Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Database software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- ESRI ArcView
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- Desktop publishing software
- Geomechanical design analysis GDA software
- Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- RockWare ArcMap
- Photogrammetric software
How do I Become a Conservation Technician?
Individuals working as a Forest and Conservation Technician have obtained the following education levels:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Conservation Technician?
Where Forest and Conservation Technicians Are Employed
The table below shows the approximate number of Forest and Conservation Technicians employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Forest and Conservation Technician may also be interested in:
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
- Forest Firefighters
- Fish and Game Wardens
Are you already one of the many Forest and Conservation Technician in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
- Park Naturalists
- Forest Firefighters
- Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
- Ship and Boat Captains
References:
Image Credit: Bureau of Land Management via Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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