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Forest and Conservation Workers
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.
Other titles employers use
Christmas Tree Farmer · Conservation Officer · Field Laborer · Forest Ranger · Forest Resource Specialist · Forestry Support Specialist · Park Maintainer · Reforestation Worker
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
4 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
- Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.
- Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.
- Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, organizing and analytical work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Subjects to know
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Geography
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Expression
- Static Strength
- Deductive Reasoning
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.0 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 3.4 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.8 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.1 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 47%
- A four-year degree 23%
- A master's degree 20%
- A certificate or some college 8%
- A two-year degree 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Geographic information system
- Data base user interface and query software
- Spreadsheet software
- Electronic mail software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Project management software
- Operating system software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 2,300
- Job openings each year
- 400
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- −4.2%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2,300 | 400 | −4.2% |
| Washington | 890 | 160 | 8.5% |
| South Dakota | 770 | 140 | 4.1% |
| Georgia | 290 | 50 | 3.6% |
| Wisconsin | 270 | 50 | −6.9% |
| Tennessee | 260 | 50 | −3.7% |
| Arkansas | 240 | 40 | 9.1% |
| South Carolina | 240 | 40 | −4.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 210 | 40 | −4.5% |
| Louisiana | 180 | 30 | −5.3% |
| Oregon | 180 | 30 | — |
| New Mexico | 170 | 30 | 6.3% |
| Colorado | 160 | 30 | — |
| Arizona | 130 | 20 | −7.1% |
| Iowa | 130 | 20 | — |
| Alaska | 110 | 20 | — |
| Texas | 100 | 20 | — |
| Florida | 80 | 10 | — |
| Indiana | 70 | 10 | −12.5% |
| Minnesota | 70 | 10 | −12.5% |
| Ohio | 50 | 10 | −16.7% |
| North Dakota | 40 | 10 | — |
| Alabama | 30 | 10 | −25.0% |
| Nebraska | 30 | 10 | −25.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Degrees each year
- 81
- Admit rate
- 57%
- Annual cost after aid
- $18,000
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Degrees each year
- 78
- Admit rate
- 40%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
- Degrees each year
- 56
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
University of Florida
- Degrees each year
- 48
- Admit rate
- 24%
- Annual cost after aid
- $7,000
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
- Degrees each year
- 46
- Admit rate
- 30%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
- Degrees each year
- 44
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Mississippi State University
- Degrees each year
- 51
- Admit rate
- 76%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Stephen F Austin State University
- Degrees each year
- 41
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000