Forest and Conservation Workers

Summary

Forest and conservation workers may perform fire suppression activities under the supervision of foresters and forest and conservation technicians.

Quick Facts: Forest and Conservation Workers
2010 Median Pay	$23,900 per year $11.49 per hour
Entry-Level Education	High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2010	13,700
Job Outlook, 2010-20	1% (Little or no change)
Employment Change, 2010-20	100

What Forest and Conservation Workers Do

Forest and conservation workers measure and improve the quality of forests. Under the supervision of foresters and forest and conservation technicians, they help to develop, maintain, and protect forests.

Work Environment

Forest and conversation workers typically work outdoors, sometimes in remote locations and in all types of weather. Workers use proper safety measures and equipment, such as hardhats, protective eyewear, and safety clothing.

How to Become a Forest and Conservation Worker

Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma. Most workers get on-the-job training.

Pay

The median annual wage of forest and conservation workers was $23,900 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of forest and conservation workers is expected to experience little or no change, growing 1 percent from 2010 to 2020. Heightened demand for American timber and wood pellets will help increase overall job prospects, as will efforts to preserve existing parks and forests.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of forest and conservation workers with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about forest and conservation workers by contacting these additional resources.

What Forest and Conservation Workers Do About this section

Forest and conservation workers select or cut trees according to markings, sizes, types, or grades.

Forest and conservation workers measure and improve the quality of forests. Under the supervision of foresters and forest and conservation technicians, they help to develop, maintain, and protect forests.

Duties

Forest and conservation workers typically do the following:

• Plant seedlings to reforest land
• Clear away brush and debris from camping trails, roadsides, and camping areas
• Count trees during tree-measuring efforts
• Select or cut trees according to markings, sizes, types, or grades
• Spray trees with insecticides and fungicides to kill insects and protect the trees from disease
• Identify and remove diseased or undesirable trees
• Inject vegetation with insecticides and herbicides
• Help prevent and suppress forest fires
• Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly

Forest and conservation workers are often supervised by foresters and forest and conservation technicians, who direct their work and evaluate their progress.

They do basic tasks to maintain and improve forest quality, such as planting seedlings or removing diseased trees. To plant seedlings, they use digging and planting tools. To cut trees, they use handsaws or power saws.

Some forest workers work on tree farms, where they plant, cultivate, and harvest many different kinds of trees. Their duties vary with the type of farm and may include planting seedlings, spraying to control weed growth and insects, and harvesting trees.

Some forest and conservation workers work in forest nurseries, where they sort through tree seedlings, discarding those that don't meet standards. Others use hand tools or their hands to gather woodland products, such as decorative greens, tree cones, bark, moss, and other wild plant life. Some may tap trees to make syrup or chemicals.

Forest and conservation workers who are employed by or under contract with state and local governments may clear brush and debris from trails, roadsides, and camping areas. They may clean kitchens and rest rooms at recreational facilities and campgrounds.

Workers with a fire protection background also help to prevent fires. For example, they may construct firebreaks, which are gaps in vegetation that can help slow down or stop the progress of a fire. They also may work with technicians to study how quickly fires spread and how successful fire suppression activities were. For example, workers help count how many trees will be affected by a fire. They also sometimes respond to forest emergencies.

Work Environment About this section

Forest and conservation workers plant seedlings to reforest land.

Forest and conservation workers held about 13,700 jobs in 2010. Industries that employed the largest numbers of forest and conservation workers in 2010, were as follows:

Forest and conversation workers typically work for state and local governments or on privately owned forest lands. Those employed by forest management services may work for the federal government on a contract basis.

Forest and conservation workers' jobs are concentrated in the West and Southeast, where there are many national and private forests and parks.

Forest and conversation workers typically work outdoors, sometimes in remote locations and in all types of weather. However, the increased use of machines has reduced some of the discomfort of working in bad weather and has made tasks much safer. Workers also use proper safety measures and equipment, such as hardhats, protective eyewear, and safety clothing.

Most of these jobs are physically demanding. Forest and conservation workers may have to walk long distances through densely wooded areas.

Work Schedules

Most forest and conservation workers are employed full time and have a routine work schedule. Seasonal employees may be expected to work longer hours and at night. Responding to an emergency may require workers to work longer hours and at any time of day.

How to Become a Forest and Conservation Worker About this section

Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma before they begin working.

Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma before they begin working.  Most workers get on-the-job training.

Education and Training

Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma before they begin working.  Entry-level forest and conservation workers generally get on-the-job training as they help more experienced workers. They do routine labor-intensive tasks, such as planting or thinning trees.

When the opportunity arises, they learn from experienced technicians and foresters who do more complex tasks, such as gathering data.

Training programs for forest and conservation workers also are common in many states. These programs, which typically take place in the field, encourage the health and productivity of the nation's forests through programs such as the Sustainable Forest Initiative.

Some vocational and technical schools and community colleges offer courses leading to a two-year technical degree in forest management technology, wildlife management, conservation, and forest harvesting. Programs that include field trips to watch and participate in forestry activities provide a particularly good background.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Forest and conservation workers must effectively convey information to technicians and other workers.

Decision-making skills. Forest and conservation workers must make quick, intelligent decisions when hazards arise.

Detail oriented. Forest and conservation workers must watch gauges, dials, or other indicators to determine whether equipment and tools are working properly.

Listening skills.  Forest and conservation workers must give full attention to what their superiors are saying. They must understand the instructions they are given before performing tasks.

Physical stamina. Forest and conservation workers must plant trees and perform a variety of repeated physical tasks. They must also be able to walk long distances through densely wooded areas.

Advancement

To advance their careers and become forest and conservation technicians or foresters, forest and conservation workers usually need an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in forestry or a related field. For more information, see the profiles on forest and conservation technicians and conservation scientists and foresters.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of forest and conservation workers was $23,900 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $16,730, and the top 10 percent earned more than $44,780.

Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest number of forestry and conservation workers in May 2010 were as follows:

Most forest and conservation workers are employed full time and have a routine work schedule. Seasonal employees may be expected to work longer hours and at night. Responding to an emergency may require workers to work longer hours and at any time of day.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of forest and conservation workers is expected to experience little or no change, growing 1 percent from 2010 to 2020. Heightened demand for American timber and wood pellets will help increase demand for forest and conservation workers.

Jobs in private forests will grow with the increasing demand for timber and pellets, but ongoing fiscal crises will likely lessen the number of available positions in state and local governments. Wildfires caused by unpredictable climate conditions may increase the fire suppression activities of forest and conservation workers.

Most employment growth for forest and conservation technicians will be in federally owned forest lands. Recent developments in western forests may result in the conversion of unused roads into forest land, thus creating some new jobs. In addition, increasing pressure on the Forest Service (part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture) to undertake major road repair may result in higher levels of employment.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For information about forestry careers and schools offering education in forestry, visit

Society of American Foresters

For information about careers in forestry—particularly conservation forestry and land management, visit

Forest Guild