Science · Career brief

Forest and Conservation Technicians

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Forest and Conservation Technicians at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$54,560

Below the middle on pay

2025 national median. Below the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

-2.1%

Projected employment decline

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Bottom quarter for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

3,800

Moderate opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

Associate degree

Usually a two-year-level credential or equivalent route

Associate's degree. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Thin and space trees and control weeds and undergrowth, using manual tools and chemicals, or supervise workers performing these tasks.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

BLS projects employment to shrink 2.1% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

ChooseField take

The national benchmarks are mixed, so the work itself and the route in matter more than any standout pay or demand signal. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with an associate-degree path. Main tradeoff: BLS projects employment to shrink 2.1% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

Before choosing, compare:Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians Food Science Technicians

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Forest and Conservation Technicians with another field Explore rankings in Science Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$54,560

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

-2.1%employment growth3,800openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Associate's degree

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

32,800

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Forest and conservation technicians (19-4071).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Thin and space trees and control weeds and undergrowth, using manual tools and chemicals, or supervise workers performing these tasks.
Train and lead forest and conservation workers in seasonal activities, such as planting tree seedlings, putting out forest fires, and maintaining recreational facilities.
Provide information about, and enforce, regulations, such as those concerning environmental protection, resource utilization, fire safety, and accident prevention.
Patrol park or forest areas to protect resources and prevent damage.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

BLS projects employment to shrink 2.1% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment4.4
Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.3
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.2
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.2
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.1

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic6.5
Conventional4.7
Investigative4.4
Social2.8
Enterprising2.5
Artistic1.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Public Safety and Security Law and Government Geography Mathematics

Software and tools named in job postings

ESRI ArcGIS software Geographic information system GIS systems

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Run a small investigation with a written hypothesis, observations or public data, and a conclusion that states what the evidence cannot prove.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Forest and conservation technicians nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions. Examples of tools used in the occupation include ESRI ArcGIS software, Geographic information system GIS systems; check which ones employers near you actually require.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options