What Does it Take to Be a Forest and Conservation Technician?

Conservation Technician Example 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.

A Day in the Life of a Conservation Technician

• Plan and supervise construction of access routes and forest roads.
• Survey, measure, and map access roads and forest areas such as burns, cut-over areas, experimental plots, and timber sales sections.
• Conduct laboratory or field experiments with plants, animals, insects, diseases, and soils.
• Train and lead forest and conservation workers in seasonal activities, such as planting tree seedlings, putting out forest fires, and maintaining recreational facilities.
• Monitor activities of logging companies and contractors.
• Provide forestry education and general information, advice, and recommendations to woodlot owners, community organizations, and the general public.

Skills Needed to be a Conservation Technician

These are the skills Forest and Conservation Technicians say are the most useful in their careers:

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.

Types of Conservation Technician Jobs

• Grazing Examiner
• County Ranger
• Conservation Officer
• Resource Manager
• Grazing Aide

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. There will be an estimated 4,000 positions for Conservation Technician per 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.

Do Forest and Conservation Technicians Make A Lot Of Money?

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 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
• Facebook
• 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 to Become a Conservation Technician

Are there Forest and Conservation Technicians education requirements?

What work experience do I need 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 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:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Bureau of Land Management via Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

More about our data sources and methodologies.