Life, Physical, and Social Science · Holland code RCI
Forest and Conservation Technicians
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.
Also called: Forest Technician, Forestry Aide, Forestry Technician (Forestry Tech), Resource Technician, Biological Science Aide, Timber Appraiser.
O*NET 19-4071.00
At a glance
- US median annual pay
- $54,560
- Middle half earn $47,360 to $68,600. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
- Most common education
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- 35% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
- Preparation needed
- Job Zone 3 of 5
- Medium preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.
What the work involves
The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.
- Thin and space trees and control weeds and undergrowth, using manual tools and chemicals, or supervise workers performing these tasks.
- Keep records of the amount and condition of logs taken to mills.
- Manage forest protection activities, including fire control, fire crew training, and coordination of fire detection and public education programs.
- Monitor activities of logging companies and contractors.
- Perform reforestation or forest renewal, including nursery and silviculture operations, site preparation, seeding and tree planting programs, cone collection, and tree improvement.
- Train and lead forest and conservation workers in seasonal activities, such as planting tree seedlings, putting out forest fires, and maintaining recreational facilities.
- Plan and supervise construction of access routes and forest roads.
- Select and mark trees for thinning or logging, drawing detailed plans that include access roads.
Skills and knowledge it leans on
Skills
- Active Listening3.8 / 5
- Critical Thinking3.8 / 5
- Reading Comprehension3.4 / 5
- Speaking3.3 / 5
- Monitoring3.1 / 5
- Writing3.0 / 5
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security3.8 / 5
- English Language3.7 / 5
- Customer and Personal Service3.5 / 5
- Law and Government3.4 / 5
- Administration and Management3.4 / 5
- Geography3.4 / 5
Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.
Who tends to enjoy it
How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.
- Realistic92
- Investigative56
- Artistic0
- Social30
- Enterprising25
- Conventional62
The same work abroad
Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.
European occupation titles (ESCO)
- forester · DE Forstwirt/Forstwirtin · FR forestier
- forestry adviser · DE Forstwirtschaftlicher Berater/forstwirtschaftliche Beraterin · FR conseiller en sylviculture/conseillère en sylviculture
- conservation scientist · DE Wissenschaftler Natur- und Artenschutz/Wissenschaftlerin Natur- und Artenschutz · FR agent chargé de protection et sauvegarde du patrimoine naturel/agente chargée de protection et sauvegarde du patrimoine naturel
- natural resources consultant · DE Berater Natürliche Ressourcen/Beraterin Natürliche Ressourcen · FR conseiller en environnement/conseillère en environnement
- nature conservation officer · DE Umweltberater/Umweltberaterin · FR chargé de mission patrimoine naturel/chargée de mission patrimoine naturel
- botanical technician · DE Botaniktechniker/Botaniktechnikerin · FR technicien botaniste/technicienne botaniste
Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)
- Conservation professionals (2151)21,900 employed
- Managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture (1211)40,300 employed
- Environment professionals (2152)80,200 employed
Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.
Pay across Europe, for the whole group
Median annual earnings of all employees in “Professionals”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.
| Country | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Belgium | €61,714 |
| Germany | €59,529 |
| Ireland | €56,877 |
| Austria | €55,374 |
| Netherlands | €53,595 |
| Sweden | €43,567 |
| France | €41,515 |
| Spain | €35,735 |
| Italy | €33,649 |
| Portugal | €26,072 |
| Poland | €14,380 |
Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.
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