Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for forest and conservation technicians in the U.S. is $54,560 ($26.23 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $54,560
- Mean annual wage
- $59,060
- Median hourly wage
- $26.23
- Employment
- 30,410
30,410 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,330 | $19.39 |
| 25th percentile | $47,360 | $22.77 |
| Median (50th) | $54,560 | $26.23 |
| 75th percentile | $68,600 | $32.98 |
| 90th percentile | $83,630 | $40.21 |
Highest-paying states for forest and conservation technicians
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $68,600 | 160 |
| Alaska | $68,160 | 500 |
| Maryland | $64,980 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $62,700 | 620 |
| Louisiana | $59,370 | 210 |
| Minnesota | $58,990 | 580 |
| California | $58,120 | 6,640 |
| New York | $58,030 | 190 |
| Colorado | $57,550 | 1,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,370 | 420 |
Lowest-paying states
- Missouri: $33,920 median annual wage
- Kansas: $41,660 median annual wage
- Kentucky: $43,660 median annual wage
- Michigan: $45,760 median annual wage
- Utah: $47,940 median annual wage
About this occupation
Provide technical assistance regarding the conservation of soil, water, forests, or related natural resources. May compile data pertaining to size, content, condition, and other characteristics of forest tracts under the direction of foresters, or train and lead forest workers in forest propagation and fire prevention and suppression. May assist conservation scientists in managing, improving, and protecting rangelands and wildlife habitats.
Typical tasks
- Provide information about, and enforce, regulations, such as those concerning environmental protection, resource utilization, fire safety, and accident prevention.
- Manage forest protection activities, including fire control, fire crew training, and coordination of fire detection and public education programs.
- Select and mark trees for thinning or logging, drawing detailed plans that include access roads.
- Inspect trees and collect samples of plants, seeds, foliage, bark, and roots to locate insect and disease damage.
- Measure distances, clean sightlines, and record data to help survey crews.
- Provide forestry education and general information, advice, and recommendations to woodlot owners, community organizations, and the general public.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Associate's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 3.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 15.3% |
| Some college, no degree | 19.9% |
| Associate's degree | 13.5% |
| Bachelor's degree | 32.1% |
| Master's degree | 11.5% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 4.4% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.