How to become a Forest and Conservation Worker
Official title: Forest and Conservation Workers
Also called: Christmas Tree Farmer, Conservation Officer, Field Laborer, Forest Ranger, Forest Resource Specialist, Forestry Support Specialist, Park Maintainer, Reforestation Worker, Tree Farmer, Tree Planter
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.
Main tasks
- 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.
How to become one
Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation and receive on-the-job training to attain competency.
Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $43,680 a year The middle half earn $37,440 to $45,760.
- About 14,700 people work in this job now, and about 14,500 are projected by 2035. (-1.5%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Forest and Conservation Worker?
Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation and receive on-the-job training to attain competency.
How much does a Forest and Conservation Worker earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $43,680 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $37,440 to $45,760.
Is a Forest and Conservation Worker a growing career in the US?
Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 14,700 people now and 14,500 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Forest and Conservation Worker?
Not always. 27% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Forest and Conservation Worker?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.