19 Series · SOC 19-4071
Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $54,560
- Median / year
- $83,630
- Top 10% earn
- -3.2%
- Growth '23–'33
- 30,410
- US workers
Forest and Conservation Technicians earn a median of $54,560 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $54,560, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $40,330 (10th percentile) to $83,630 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 30,410 US workers. North Dakota pays the most ($68,600), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Forest and Conservation Technicians earn a median of $54,560, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 40% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #45 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 3.2% by 2033.
- $54,560
- Median annual wage
- Top 60%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #45 of 48
- in Life, Physical, and Social Science
- 2.1×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: North Dakota at $68,600. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
Forest and Conservation Technicians (SOC 19-4071) pays a national median of $54,560 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $40,330 at the 10th percentile to $83,630 at the 90th, with a mean of $59,060 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 30,410 Americans work in this occupation across 45 reporting states and 172 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -3.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 3,900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Associate's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.7 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. North Dakota pays the highest state median at $68,600, which is +26% above the national figure. The top metro is Baton Rouge, LA at $87,500 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$54,560
per year
Median Hourly
$26.23/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$59,060
average
Employment
30,410
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Forest and Conservation Technicians pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$54,560 Bottom 40% higher than 40% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Forest and Conservation Technicians; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 19-series occupations with growth data, Forest and Conservation Technicians sits on the slower-growing side at -3.2% growth and $54,560 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-3.2%
Declining
Annual Openings
3,900
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Associate's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
0.7/100
Danger Index
3.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Forest and Conservation Technicians roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Thin and space trees and control weeds and undergrowth, using manual tools and chemicals, or supervise workers performing these tasks.
- ▸ Keep records of the amount and condition of logs taken to mills.
- ▸ Manage forest protection activities, including fire control, fire crew training, and coordination of fire detection and public education programs.
- ▸ Monitor activities of logging companies and contractors.
- ▸ Perform reforestation or forest renewal, including nursery and silviculture operations, site preparation, seeding and tree planting programs, cone collection, and tree improvement.
- ▸ Train and lead forest and conservation workers in seasonal activities, such as planting tree seedlings, putting out forest fires, and maintaining recreational facilities.
- ▸ Plan and supervise construction of access routes and forest roads.
- ▸ Select and mark trees for thinning or logging, drawing detailed plans that include access roads.
- ▸ Supervise forest nursery operations, timber harvesting, land use activities such as livestock grazing, and disease or insect control programs.
- ▸ Provide information about, and enforce, regulations, such as those concerning environmental protection, resource utilization, fire safety, and accident prevention.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$40,330
25th Percentile
$47,360
Median
$54,560
75th Percentile
$68,600
90th Percentile
$83,630
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 45 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $68,600 | +26% above national |
| 2 | Alaska | $68,160 | +25% above national |
| 3 | Maryland | $64,980 | +19% above national |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $62,700 | +15% above national |
| 5 | Louisiana | $59,370 | +9% above national |
| 6 | Minnesota | $58,990 | +8% above national |
| 7 | California | $58,120 | +7% above national |
| 8 | New York | $58,030 | +6% above national |
| 9 | Colorado | $57,550 | +5% above national |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $57,370 | +5% above national |
| 11 | Alabama | $56,720 | +4% above national |
| 12 | Arizona | $56,660 | +4% above national |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $56,480 | +4% above national |
| 14 | Oregon | $55,910 | +2% above national |
| 15 | South Carolina | $55,910 | +2% above national |
| 16 | South Dakota | $54,770 | same as national |
| 17 | West Virginia | $54,600 | same as national |
| 18 | Nevada | $54,230 | 1% below national |
| 19 | Vermont | $54,160 | 1% below national |
| 20 | Washington | $54,160 | 1% below national |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $53,930 | 1% below national |
| 22 | Arkansas | $53,290 | 2% below national |
| 23 | Idaho | $53,290 | 2% below national |
| 24 | Wyoming | $53,290 | 2% below national |
| 25 | New Mexico | $53,000 | 3% below national |
| 26 | Illinois | $52,790 | 3% below national |
| 27 | Florida | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 28 | Mississippi | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 29 | Montana | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 30 | Texas | $52,200 | 4% below national |
| 31 | Iowa | $52,000 | 5% below national |
| 32 | Nebraska | $51,630 | 5% below national |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $51,630 | 5% below national |
| 34 | Georgia | $50,710 | 7% below national |
| 35 | Hawaii | $50,040 | 8% below national |
| 36 | Virginia | $49,960 | 8% below national |
| 37 | Ohio | $48,840 | 10% below national |
| 38 | Indiana | $48,660 | 11% below national |
| 39 | North Carolina | $48,360 | 11% below national |
| 40 | Tennessee | $47,940 | 12% below national |
| 41 | Utah | $47,940 | 12% below national |
| 42 | Michigan | $45,760 | 16% below national |
| 43 | Kentucky | $43,660 | 20% below national |
| 44 | Kansas | $41,660 | 24% below national |
| 45 | Missouri | $33,920 | 38% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 172 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $87,500 | +60% above national |
| 2 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $74,410 | +36% above national |
| 3 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $68,600 | +26% above national |
| 4 | Carson City, NV | $67,040 | +23% above national |
| 5 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $66,930 | +23% above national |
| 6 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $65,690 | +20% above national |
| 7 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $65,670 | +20% above national |
| 8 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $64,940 | +19% above national |
| 9 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $64,440 | +18% above national |
| 10 | Asheville, NC | $64,000 | +17% above national |
| 11 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $63,820 | +17% above national |
| 12 | Boulder, CO | $63,650 | +17% above national |
| 13 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $63,300 | +16% above national |
| 14 | Alexandria, LA | $63,270 | +16% above national |
| 15 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $63,150 | +16% above national |
| 16 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $63,040 | +16% above national |
| 17 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $62,400 | +14% above national |
| 18 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $62,390 | +14% above national |
| 19 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $61,880 | +13% above national |
| 20 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $61,820 | +13% above national |
| 21 | Tucson, AZ | $61,210 | +12% above national |
| 22 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $61,110 | +12% above national |
| 23 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $61,110 | +12% above national |
| 24 | Grants Pass, OR | $61,020 | +12% above national |
| 25 | Corvallis, OR | $60,980 | +12% above national |
| 26 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $60,860 | +12% above national |
| 27 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $60,860 | +12% above national |
| 28 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $60,320 | +11% above national |
| 29 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $60,320 | +11% above national |
| 30 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $60,270 | +10% above national |
| 31 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $60,060 | +10% above national |
| 32 | Salinas, CA | $59,920 | +10% above national |
| 33 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $59,740 | +9% above national |
| 34 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $59,740 | +9% above national |
| 35 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $59,610 | +9% above national |
| 36 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $59,590 | +9% above national |
| 37 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $59,560 | +9% above national |
| 38 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $59,030 | +8% above national |
| 39 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $59,000 | +8% above national |
| 40 | Bend, OR | $58,990 | +8% above national |
| 41 | Missoula, MT | $58,990 | +8% above national |
| 42 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $58,990 | +8% above national |
| 43 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $58,930 | +8% above national |
| 44 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $58,660 | +8% above national |
| 45 | Colorado Springs, CO | $58,590 | +7% above national |
| 46 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $58,450 | +7% above national |
| 47 | Santa Fe, NM | $58,280 | +7% above national |
| 48 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $58,070 | +6% above national |
| 49 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $58,030 | +6% above national |
| 50 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $57,840 | +6% above national |
| 51 | Albuquerque, NM | $57,700 | +6% above national |
| 52 | Boise City, ID | $57,660 | +6% above national |
| 53 | Rapid City, SD | $57,660 | +6% above national |
| 54 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $57,390 | +5% above national |
| 55 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $57,160 | +5% above national |
| 56 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $56,770 | +4% above national |
| 57 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $56,730 | +4% above national |
| 58 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $56,620 | +4% above national |
| 59 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $56,620 | +4% above national |
| 60 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $56,610 | +4% above national |
| 61 | Salem, OR | $56,490 | +4% above national |
| 62 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $56,410 | +3% above national |
| 63 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $56,370 | +3% above national |
| 64 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $55,910 | +2% above national |
| 65 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $55,580 | +2% above national |
| 66 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $55,470 | +2% above national |
| 67 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $55,450 | +2% above national |
| 68 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $55,190 | +1% above national |
| 69 | Green Bay, WI | $54,950 | +1% above national |
| 70 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $54,950 | +1% above national |
| 71 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $54,950 | +1% above national |
| 72 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $54,950 | +1% above national |
| 73 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $54,950 | +1% above national |
| 74 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $54,940 | +1% above national |
| 75 | Cleveland, TN | $54,900 | +1% above national |
| 76 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $54,830 | same as national |
| 77 | Corpus Christi, TX | $54,560 | same as national |
| 78 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $54,560 | same as national |
| 79 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $54,500 | same as national |
| 80 | Helena, MT | $54,160 | 1% below national |
| 81 | Medford, OR | $54,160 | 1% below national |
| 82 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $54,160 | 1% below national |
| 83 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $54,160 | 1% below national |
| 84 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $54,160 | 1% below national |
| 85 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $54,160 | 1% below national |
| 86 | Pittsburgh, PA | $54,060 | 1% below national |
| 87 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $53,930 | 1% below national |
| 88 | Johnson City, TN | $53,730 | 2% below national |
| 89 | Billings, MT | $53,290 | 2% below national |
| 90 | Bozeman, MT | $53,290 | 2% below national |
| 91 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $53,290 | 2% below national |
| 92 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $53,140 | 3% below national |
| 93 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $53,010 | 3% below national |
| 94 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $52,860 | 3% below national |
| 95 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $52,840 | 3% below national |
| 96 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $52,730 | 3% below national |
| 97 | Visalia, CA | $52,690 | 3% below national |
| 98 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $52,460 | 4% below national |
| 99 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 100 | Ogden, UT | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 101 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 102 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 103 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 104 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 105 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 106 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 107 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 108 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 109 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 110 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 111 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 112 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 113 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $52,420 | 4% below national |
| 114 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $52,310 | 4% below national |
| 115 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $52,280 | 4% below national |
| 116 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $51,630 | 5% below national |
| 117 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $51,630 | 5% below national |
| 118 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $51,630 | 5% below national |
| 119 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $51,630 | 5% below national |
| 120 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $51,630 | 5% below national |
| 121 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $51,600 | 5% below national |
| 122 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $51,540 | 6% below national |
| 123 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $51,360 | 6% below national |
| 124 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $50,620 | 7% below national |
| 125 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $50,530 | 7% below national |
| 126 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $50,510 | 7% below national |
| 127 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $50,450 | 8% below national |
| 128 | Farmington, NM | $50,130 | 8% below national |
| 129 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $50,080 | 8% below national |
| 130 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $50,040 | 8% below national |
| 131 | Yakima, WA | $49,940 | 8% below national |
| 132 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,630 | 9% below national |
| 133 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $49,100 | 10% below national |
| 134 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $49,040 | 10% below national |
| 135 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $48,940 | 10% below national |
| 136 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $48,650 | 11% below national |
| 137 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $48,610 | 11% below national |
| 138 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $48,420 | 11% below national |
| 139 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $48,380 | 11% below national |
| 140 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $48,360 | 11% below national |
| 141 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $47,940 | 12% below national |
| 142 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $47,940 | 12% below national |
| 143 | Knoxville, TN | $47,370 | 13% below national |
| 144 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $47,370 | 13% below national |
| 145 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $47,240 | 13% below national |
| 146 | Omaha, NE-IA | $47,130 | 14% below national |
| 147 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $46,180 | 15% below national |
| 148 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $46,010 | 16% below national |
| 149 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $46,010 | 16% below national |
| 150 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $45,760 | 16% below national |
| 151 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $45,450 | 17% below national |
| 152 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $45,390 | 17% below national |
| 153 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $45,340 | 17% below national |
| 154 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $45,330 | 17% below national |
| 155 | Madison, WI | $44,950 | 18% below national |
| 156 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $44,950 | 18% below national |
| 157 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $44,950 | 18% below national |
| 158 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $43,500 | 20% below national |
| 159 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $41,350 | 24% below national |
| 160 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $40,330 | 26% below national |
| 161 | Richmond, VA | $38,790 | 29% below national |
| 162 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $37,590 | 31% below national |
| 163 | Cleveland, OH | $37,450 | 31% below national |
| 164 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $37,080 | 32% below national |
| 165 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,610 | 33% below national |
| 166 | Reno, NV | $35,930 | 34% below national |
| 167 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $35,360 | 35% below national |
| 168 | Jefferson City, MO | $33,920 | 38% below national |
| 169 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $33,920 | 38% below national |
| 170 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $33,920 | 38% below national |
| 171 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $33,920 | 38% below national |
| 172 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $32,550 | 40% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 19 (life physical and social science) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Forest and Conservation Technicians make? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Forest and Conservation Technicians pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $68,600/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: North Dakota leads at $68,600/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.