Forest and Conservation Workers

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, tree planters, and gatherers of nontimber forestry products such as pine straw.

SOC: 45-4011.00

Common Job Titles

Forest RangerForestry Support SpecialistTree FarmerTree Planter
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Annual wage data for Forest and Conservation Workers (2024)

Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)

5,630

Wage Distribution by Percentile

MetricU.S.
10% of workers earn the following or less$33,050
10% of workers earn the following or more$54,190
Workers on average earn$42,830

+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)

Skills & Requirements

Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance

  • Public Safety and Security3.5/5
  • English Language3.5/5
  • Customer and Personal Service3.2/5
  • Administration and Management3.2/5
  • Geography3.0/5
Tools & Technology

Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation

In-Demand Technology

Frequently requested by employers in job postings

ESRI ArcGIS softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Word

Technology Skills

Database softwareGeographic information system GIS softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsIBM Lotus 1-2-3IBM Lotus NotesLeica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINEWord processing software

Tools & Equipment

BackhoesBackpack sprayersBrush hogsChain sawsClaw hammersDibblersDirectional compassesDump trucks