What is a Forest and Conservation Technician?
Job 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.
List of Conservation Technician Job Duties
- Plan and supervise construction of access routes and forest roads.
- Manage forest protection activities, including fire control, fire crew training, and coordination of fire detection and public education programs.
- Conduct laboratory or field experiments with plants, animals, insects, diseases, and soils.
- Map forest tract data using digital mapping systems.
- Monitor activities of logging companies and contractors.
- Install gauges, stream flow recorders, and soil moisture measuring instruments, and collect and record data from them to assist with watershed analysis.
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Qualities of a Conservation Technician
When polled, Forest and Conservation Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Park Warden
- Conservation Technician
- Conservation Specialist
- Resource Technician
- Conservation Officer
Is There Job Demand for Forest and Conservation Technicians?
There were about 33,200 jobs for Forest and Conservation Technician in 2016 (in the United States). 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,000 job openings in this field each year.
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.
Salary for 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 different U.S. states?
| 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 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?
Are there Forest and Conservation Technicians education requirements?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Forest and Conservation Technicians Work
Below are examples of industries where Forest and Conservation Technicians work:
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Forest and Conservation Technician might also be interested in the following careers:
- 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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