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Career

Forest and Conservation Workers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipLower pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $43,680 Median per year · $21.00/hr Most earn $33,780–$57,220

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.
  • Spray or inject vegetation with insecticides to kill insects or to protect against disease or with herbicides to reduce competing vegetation.
  • Sort tree seedlings, discarding substandard seedlings, according to standard charts or verbal instructions.
  • Operate skidders, bulldozers, or other prime movers to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated.
  • Thin or space trees, using power thinning saws.
  • Thin or space trees, using power thinning saws.

Job outlook

United States
2% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 2,200 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Self-employed (their own business)26.7%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals21.1%
  • Forestry15.7%
  • Social advocacy organizations11.0%
  • Support activities for agriculture and forestry10.4%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Forest and conservation work is usually an entry-level job. Most people start after a high school diploma, often with a short certificate or apprenticeship, and typically spend about 1 to 2 years in outdoor field work before they feel fully settled in the role.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with a focus on science and math, and spend time outdoors whenever you can, since this work is physical and field-based.

  2. Forestry, conservation, or horticulture certificate or apprenticeship

    6 months to 1 year

    Short training teaches tree planting, seedling care, pest and disease identification, and safe use of field tools, which gets you hired for crew work.

  3. Forest and Conservation Worker

    1-2 years of on-the-job experience

    You work under supervision on planting, seedling care, pest control, and erosion-control projects, building the skills and experience that lead to more responsibility.

Where it can lead

  1. Forest and Conservation Technician

    1-2 years of experience first

    You move from doing hands-on tasks to collecting field data, measuring forests, and helping with plans, which usually takes more training or technical coursework.

  2. Forester

    1-2 years of experience first

    You manage forest land, write management plans, and supervise crews, which typically requires a bachelor's degree in forestry or a related field.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, earth science, and mathThese classes build the science background you need for plant, soil, and forest work and for any certificate program later.
  • Join an environmental or outdoor clubClubs like FFA, 4-H, or an environmental club give you hands-on projects and teach teamwork in the field.
  • Volunteer on local conservation projectsTree planting days, trail work, or invasive plant removal with a park or nonprofit show you what the job feels like.
  • Get a starter job outdoorsYard work, landscaping, or farm helper jobs build physical stamina and reliability that employers look for.
  • Learn basic tool and safety skillsPractice using hand tools and learn first aid or basic chainsaw safety courses if your school or town offers them, since safety matters a lot in this work.

In college

  • Take courses in forestry, ecology, or soil scienceClasses in these areas teach the plant, soil, and land knowledge that this career builds on.
  • Pursue a certificate or apprenticeshipA short forestry, arboriculture, or natural resources certificate gives you formal training that employers in this field often look for.
  • Find a seasonal or summer field jobWorking on a crew with a park, nursery, or land agency gives you the 1 to 2 years of field experience this career usually expects.
  • Join a student environmental or forestry groupStudent clubs offer networking, field trips, and chances to learn from professionals in the area.
  • Build your safety and equipment certificationsBasic first aid, CPR, and chainsaw or equipment safety training are the kinds of credentials that help you stand out for field jobs.

Tips for getting started

  • Get comfortable with the outdoors now: hiking, camping, gardening, or volunteering on trail or park clean-ups all show employers you can handle the work.
  • Ask a local forestry office, park, or nursery whether they hire seasonal helpers or accept student volunteers, since this is one of the most common ways to get your first field experience.
  • Keep a simple log of the tasks you do, the tools you use, and any certifications you earn, because this makes job applications and interviews much stronger.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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