Forest and Conservation Worker

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.

On the job, you would:

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.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Forest and conservation workers must convey information to foresters and conservation scientists and other workers.

Decision-making skills. Forest and conservation workers must make judgments and act quickly, especially when conditions are dangerous.

Detail oriented. Forest and conservation workers must observe gauges, dials, and other indicators to ensure that equipment works properly. They also must be precise in following safety procedures.

Listening skills. Forest and conservation workers must understand the instructions they receive before performing tasks.

Physical stamina. Forest and conservation workers perform a variety of strenuous tasks. They also must be able to walk long distances through dense woods, often while carrying heavy equipment.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		87%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		87%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		85%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		82%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		78%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		76%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		76%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		75%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		74%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		72%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		69%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		69%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		66%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
		62%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		61%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		100%	Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
		61%	Conventional - Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		56%	Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
		56%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		63%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		63%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		56%	Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
		56%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		53%	Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
		53%	Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
		53%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		53%	Dynamic Strength - The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
		53%	Trunk Strength - The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
		53%	Stamina - The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
		53%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		53%	Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Sort forestry or agricultural materials.

Inspect equipment or facilities to determine condition or maintenance needs.

Communicate with other workers to coordinate activities.

Perform forest firefighting activities.

Determine forestry techniques or methods.

Cut trees or logs.

Evaluate quality of plants or crops.

Cut trees or logs.

Apply chemical solutions to plants to protect against disease or insects or to enhance growth.

Transport animals, crops, or equipment.

Trim trees or other vegetation.

Operate forestry equipment.

Record agricultural or forestry inventory data.

Build agricultural structures.

Trim trees or other vegetation.

Operate forestry equipment.

Plant crops, trees, or other plants.

Perform manual agricultural, aquacultural, or horticultural tasks.

Advise others on farming or forestry operations, regulations, or equipment.

Operate forestry equipment.

Mark agricultural or forestry products for identification.

Sort forestry or agricultural materials.

Clean equipment or facilities.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		97%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		95%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		93%	Outdoors, Exposed to Weather - How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
		90%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		89%	In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment - How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
		85%	Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings - How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
		83%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		83%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		83%	Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
		80%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		80%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		77%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		76%	Very Hot or Cold Temperatures - How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
		75%	Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in non-controlled environmental conditions (e.g., warehouse without heat)?
		74%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		74%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		74%	Exposed to Contaminants - How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
		73%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		71%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		67%	Exposed to Hazardous Equipment - How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
		63%	Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
		63%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		60%	Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing?
		60%	Consequence of Error - How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?
		59%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		56%	Spend Time Walking and Running - How much does this job require walking and running?
		53%	Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos?
		52%	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
		51%	Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
		51%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		53%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		87%	Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
		80%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
		74%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		74%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		70%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		69%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		67%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		67%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		66%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		63%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
		61%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		61%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		60%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		60%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		59%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		58%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		57%	Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
		55%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		55%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		54%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		54%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		53%	Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
		53%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		52%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

What Forest and Conservation Workers Do

Forest and conservation workers count trees during tree-measuring efforts.

Forest and conservation workers improve the quality of forests, rangelands, and wetlands. Under the supervision of conservation scientists and foresters, they develop, maintain, and protect forests.

Duties

Forest and conservation workers typically do the following:

Plant seedlings to reforest land
Clear brush and debris from trails, roadsides, and camping areas
Count and measure trees during tree-measuring efforts
Select or cut trees according to markings, sizes, types, or grades
Protect plants from disease by spraying trees or injecting vegetation with insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides
Identify and remove diseased or undesirable plant life or trees
Help prevent and suppress forest fires
Maintain equipment to ensure that it operates properly

Forest and conservation workers do physical tasks to maintain and improve the quality of a forest. They use a variety of equipment, including digging and planting tools to plant seedlings and power saws to cut down diseased trees.

Some work on tree farms or orchards, where their duties include planting and cultivating many kinds of trees. Their duties vary with the type of farm and may include planting seedlings or spraying to control weeds and insects.

Some forest and conservation workers are employed by forest nurseries, where they sort through tree seedlings, discarding the ones that do not meet standards. Others gather woodland products, such as decorative greenery, tree cones, moss, and other wild plant life. Still others tap trees to make syrup or chemicals.

Forest and conservation workers who are employed by or are under contract with government agencies may clear brush and debris from trails, roadsides, and camping areas. They may clean restrooms and other public facilities at recreational sites and campgrounds.

These workers also may help to suppress forest fires. For example, they may construct firebreaks, which are gaps in vegetation that can help slow or stop the progress of a fire. They also sometimes respond to forest emergencies.

Forest and conservation workers are supervised by conservation scientists and foresters, who direct their work and evaluate progress.

Work Environment

Forest and conservation workers held about 11,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of forest and conservation workers were as follows:

State government, excluding education and hospitals	26%
Forestry	23
Support activities for agriculture and forestry	10
Self-employed workers	9
Crop production	2

Forest and conservation workers work outdoors, sometimes in remote locations and in all types of weather. Workers may wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as hardhats, safety glasses, and coveralls.

Their work is often physically demanding. In addition, forest and conservation workers may have to walk long distances through dense woods while carrying heavy equipment.

Injuries and Illnesses

Forest and conservation workers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. The work may be especially dangerous for those whose primary duties involve fire suppression. To protect against injury, forest and conservation workers must wear PPE and follow safety procedures.

Work Schedules

Most forest and conservation workers are employed full time, although part-time or seasonal work is common. Responding to an emergency may require workers to work additional hours at any time of day.

Getting Started

Education:

44%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

23%

Bachelor's Degree

How to Become a Forest and Conservation Worker

Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma before they begin working.

Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation and receive on-the-job training to attain competency.

Education

Forest and conservation workers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation and a valid driver’s license before they begin working. Some students take postsecondary courses in forestry and conservation topics, such as forest ecology, wildlife management, or resource conservation.

Training

After they are hired, forest and conservation workers typically get on-the-job training. They help experienced workers with labor-intensive tasks, such as planting or thinning trees. They also learn how to operate and maintain equipment safely.

In addition, some states may require that crews and individuals receive training, and sometimes a license, in the use of commercial pesticides. For more information, consult states’ agriculture department.

Advancement

To advance their careers and become forest and conservation technicians or conservation scientists or foresters, forest and conservation workers typically need an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, or a related field.

Job Outlook

Employment of forest and conservation workers is projected to decline 9 percent from 2022 to 2032.

Despite declining employment, about 1,800 openings for forest and conservation workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Automation of forest and conservation workers’ tasks is expected to reduce employment demand over the projections decade.

Despite heightened demand for U.S. timber and wood pellets, improved technology will lessen the need for forest and conservation workers to do certain tasks. For example, remote sensing allows fewer workers to count and identify trees. As automation of manual forestry tasks continues, fewer of these workers will be needed to do the same amount of work.

However, a rise in the number of wildfires may create some demand for the fire suppression activities of forest and conservation workers, especially in state-owned forest lands. As more people continue to build homes in western forests, there will be a need for workers to protect those areas from fires.

Contacts for More Information

For information about forestry and conservation careers and about schools offering education in forestry and conservation, visit

Society of American Foresters (SAF)

Student Conservation Association (SCA)

The Wildlife Society (TWS)

For information about careers in forestry, particularly conservation forestry and land management, visit

Forest Stewards Guild

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

Society for Range Management (SRM)

U.S. Forest Service

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of forest and conservation workers.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Conservation Scientists and Foresters	Conservation scientists and foresters manage the land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources.	Bachelor's degree	$64,420
Fire Inspectors	Fire inspectors detect fire hazards, recommend prevention measures, ensure compliance with state and local fire regulations, and investigate causes of fires.	See How to Become One	$65,800
Firefighters	Firefighters control and put out fires and respond to emergencies involving life, property, or the environment.	Postsecondary nondegree award	$51,680
Logging Workers	Logging workers harvest forests to provide the raw material for many consumer goods and industrial products.	High school diploma or equivalent	$46,580
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists	Cartographers and photogrammetrists collect, measure, and interpret geographic information in order to create and update maps and charts for regional planning, education, and other purposes.	Bachelor's degree	$71,890

Forest and Conservation Worker

What they do:

On the job, you would:

Important Qualities

Personality

Characteristics of this Career

Strengths

Values of the Work Environment

Aptitude

Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Job Details

Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent

Tasks & Values

What Forest and Conservation Workers Do

Duties

Work Environment

Injuries and Illnesses

Work Schedules

Getting Started

How to Become a Forest and Conservation Worker

Education

Training

Advancement

Job Outlook

Employment

Contacts for More Information

Similar Occupations