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Government Land Management
U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service
Forest and Conservation Workers
Forest and conservation workers spend most of their time outside doing hands-on land work: checking equipment, marking or removing trees, clearing survey sites, building fire breaks, and helping crews on prescribed burns or wildfire response. The work is practical and physical, but the tradeoff is clear: pay is modest and the field is expected to shrink slightly, so the job is better for people who want outdoor experience and don’t mind hard conditions than for someone looking for fast earnings or rapid growth.
Also known as Forest TechnicianForestry WorkerForest Conservation WorkerConservation TechnicianForestry Field Worker
Median Salary
$43,680
Mean $42,830
U.S. Workforce
~6K
2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-4.7%
10.8K to 10.3K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Forest and Conservation Workers sits in the Science category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~6K workers, with a median annual pay of $43,680 and roughly 2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 10.8 K in 2024 to 10.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Crew Helper and can progress toward Resource Management Specialist. High-value skills usually include Field Monitoring & Equipment Inspection, Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, and Chainsaws, Brush Saws & Hand Tools, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Coordination, and Judgment and Decision Making.
Core Responsibilities
- Inspect tools, vehicles, and field gear before work starts to make sure everything is safe and usable.
- Talk with coworkers and supervisors about safety concerns, cutting plans, fire lines, or what the crew needs that day.
- Help with brush clearing, fire breaks, or controlled burns, including supporting crews during wildfire response when needed.
- Mark, cut, or remove unhealthy or unwanted trees using saws and other hand tools.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Inspect tools, vehicles, and field gear before work starts to make sure everything is safe and usable.
02 Talk with coworkers and supervisors about safety concerns, cutting plans, fire lines, or what the crew needs that day.
03 Help with brush clearing, fire breaks, or controlled burns, including supporting crews during wildfire response when needed.
04 Mark, cut, or remove unhealthy or unwanted trees using saws and other hand tools.
05 Set up signs, fences, stakes, and measuring points for surveys or site work.
06 Count trees, record tallies, and help forest survey crews by clearing paths and holding measuring equipment in place.
Industries That Hire
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Timber & Forest Products
Weyerhaeuser, Georgia-Pacific, Rayonier
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Wildland Fire & Emergency Services
CAL FIRE, U.S. Forest Service, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
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Environmental Nonprofits
The Nature Conservancy, American Forests, Trust for Public Land
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Utility Vegetation Management
PG&E, Duke Energy, Xcel Energy
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State Parks & Public Lands
California State Parks, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Oregon State Parks
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field with a high school diploma and moderate-term on-the-job training, so you do not need a four-year degree to get started.
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The work is concrete and easy to see at the end of the day: cleared brush, marked trees, safer fire lines, and finished survey support.
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It is a strong fit for people who prefer being outdoors and moving around instead of sitting at a desk.
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The role can lead into related jobs like forestry technician, wildland fire work, park operations, or land management.
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There is still steady replacement demand, with about 2.0 thousand annual openings in a workforce of 5.63 thousand.
Challenges
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Pay is not high for the amount of physical effort involved: median annual pay is $43,680 and mean pay is $42,830.
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Employment is projected to decline from 10.8 thousand to 10.3 thousand by 2034, a drop of 4.7%.
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The work can be hard on the body because it often involves hiking, lifting, operating saws, and working in rough terrain.
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Smoke, heat, insects, bad weather, and wildfire conditions can make the job uncomfortable or dangerous.
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The career ladder can be narrow unless you add more training or education; many openings are replacement jobs, not expansion, and staffing can rise and fall with public budgets and land-management priorities.
Career Progression
Crew Helper
0-1 years
$31K-$37K
New workers learn basic field safety, equipment use, and how to support a crew on foot in rough outdoor conditions.
Forest and Conservation Worker
1-4 years
$41K-$46K
Workers here handle tree marking, brush clearing, survey support, and fire-related tasks with less supervision.
Forestry Technician THIS ROLE
4-8 years
$47K-$58K
At this level, people take on more complex field measurements, crew coordination, equipment checks, and project support.
Forest Supervisor
8-15 years
$59K-$72K
Supervisors plan daily work, assign crews, review safety issues, and keep field operations moving on time.
Resource Management Specialist
15+ years
$73K-$90K
Experienced workers move into planning, compliance, and broader land-management decisions instead of doing only field labor.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 43.63% of workers in this role, and it matches the BLS typical entry level.
Bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, or environmental science
A common but not required route, held by 22.55% of workers in the education distribution, especially for people aiming to move into technical or supervisory roles later.
Master’s degree in forestry, conservation, or land management
Held by 20.25% of workers in the distribution, this is more than many field jobs need, but it can help you shift into planning, policy, or specialist work.
Post-secondary certificate in forestry, wildland fire, or conservation fieldwork
A practical alternative route, especially for applicants who want targeted training and field credentials before applying for crew positions; 1.87% of workers in the distribution reported a post-secondary certificate.
Key Skills
Technical
Field Monitoring & Equipment Inspection 62%
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving 62%
Chainsaws, Brush Saws & Hand Tools 60%
Forestry Survey Tools & Measuring Equipment 60%
Wildland Fire Suppression Gear & Prescribed Burn Procedures 60%
GPS Units, Radios & Field Mapping Apps 60%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningCoordinationJudgment and Decision MakingReading ComprehensionSpeakingActive Learning Job Outlook and Trends
+-4.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 10.8K to 10.3 K over the next decade, representing -4.7% growth. Around 2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.