How to Become a Forest / Conservation Technician
Do the fieldwork of forest and land management: measuring stands, planting, trail work and fire support. It typically requires an associate degree, with a median salary of $54,560 per year and declining projected job growth.
Median pay
$54,560/yr
Middle half
$47,360 to $68,600
Job growth
Declining
Openings / yr
3,900
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Fieldwork
- Measurement
- Physical Stamina
- Equipment
Related careers
- Geologist$101,920 median
- Farmer / Agricultural Manager$89,900 median
- Environmental Scientist$82,220 median
- Soil / Plant Scientist$78,850 median
- Forester$76,400 median
- Agricultural Technician$49,630 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Forest / Conservation Technician make?
The median pay for a Forest / Conservation Technician is $54,560 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $47,360 and $68,600 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Forest / Conservation Technician?
The usual entry point is an associate degree. Common majors are Forestry and Wildlife and Fisheries.
Is Forest / Conservation Technician a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is declining (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 3,900 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Forest / Conservation Technician use most?
Common skills for this role are Fieldwork, Measurement, Physical Stamina, and Equipment.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).