What Do Forest and Conservation Worker Do?
Forest and Conservation Worker Example 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, and tree planters.
What Do Forest and Conservation Workers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Drag cut trees from cutting areas and load trees onto trucks.
- Select or cut trees according to markings or sizes, types, or grades.
- Explain or enforce regulations regarding camping, vehicle use, fires, use of buildings, or sanitation.
- Prune or shear tree tops or limbs to control growth, increase density, or improve shape.
- 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.
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Forest and Conservation Worker Needed Skills
Forest and Conservation Workers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Types of Forest and Conservation Worker
- Woodsman
- Timber Killer
- Tree Scout
- Tree Chipper
- Forest Resource Specialist
Job Outlook for Forest and Conservation Workers
There were about 14,300 jobs for Forest and Conservation Worker in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Forest and Conservation Worker. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,100 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Forest and Conservation Worker are Oregon, North Dakota, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Massachusetts, Louisiana, or New Jersey. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Forest and Conservation Worker
The average yearly salary of a Forest and Conservation Worker ranges between $21,940 and $48,220.

Forest and Conservation Workers who work in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, or Missouri, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Forest and Conservation Workers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
California | $24,720 |
Colorado | $28,830 |
District of Columbia | $50,800 |
Florida | $33,850 |
Georgia | $38,190 |
Hawaii | $39,810 |
Illinois | $38,760 |
Indiana | $24,340 |
Iowa | $28,400 |
Kansas | $28,380 |
Louisiana | $35,590 |
Maryland | $41,030 |
Massachusetts | $46,700 |
Michigan | $41,710 |
Missouri | $44,220 |
Montana | $30,080 |
New Hampshire | $33,440 |
New Jersey | $37,320 |
New York | $39,100 |
North Dakota | $32,490 |
Ohio | $41,520 |
Oklahoma | $33,250 |
Oregon | $36,920 |
Pennsylvania | $51,970 |
South Carolina | $28,330 |
South Dakota | $28,690 |
Tennessee | $25,570 |
Texas | $34,280 |
Washington | $28,070 |
West Virginia | $25,830 |
Wisconsin | $41,960 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Forest and Conservation Workers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Forest and Conservation Workers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE
- ESRI ArcGIS software
How do I Become a Forest and Conservation Worker?
Learn what Forest and Conservation Worker education requirements there are.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Forest and Conservation Worker?

Forest and Conservation Workers Sector

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Forest and Conservation Worker may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as a Forest and Conservation Worker sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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