# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forest-and-conservation-technicians
- SOC code: 19-4071.00
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $54,560 (10th percentile $40,330, 90th percentile $83,630)
- Projected growth: Decline, -2.1%
- Openings a year: 3,800
- Typical entry education: Associate's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 92 |
| Investigative (I) | 56 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 30 |
| Enterprising (E) | 25 |
| Conventional (C) | 62 |

## What you'd do

- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 85/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 83/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 81/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 79/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 78/100)
- Getting Information (importance 77/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 77/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 75/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 74/100)
- Scheduling Work and Activities (importance 72/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Judgment and Decision Making, Speaking, Time Management, Coordination, Instructing, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness

## Knowledge

Public Safety and Security, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Law and Government, Administration and Management, Geography, Mathematics, Education and Training, Biology, Mechanical

## Also called

Biological Science Aide, Conservation Agent, Conservation Officer, Conservation Technician, Field Technician (Field Tech), Forest Technician, Forester Aide, Forestry Aid Technician, Forestry Aide, Forestry Aide Technician

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Natural Resources Conservation and Research](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0301) (CIP 0301, 1,081 colleges)
- [Forestry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0305) (CIP 0305, 132 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](https://www.collegesref.com/college/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh-1884) | Forestry | $75,247 | $86,357 | $18,115 |
| [Boston College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/boston-college-285) | Natural Resources Conservation and Research | not reported | $82,861 | not reported |
| [California Polytechnic State University-Humboldt](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-humboldt-361) | Forestry | $45,692 | $79,849 | $19,122 |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $38,709 | $78,731 | $19,000 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $56,111 | $78,624 | $12,000 |
| [Tufts University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tufts-university-2826) | Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $37,492 | $77,753 | $15,500 |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | Forestry | $45,731 | $77,419 | $15,000 |
| [University of California-Los Angeles UCLA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-los-angeles-ucla-2884) | Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $42,557 | $75,927 | $11,426 |

## Related careers

- [Foresters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/foresters): $76,400 median pay
- [Range Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/range-managers): $73,010 median pay
- [Forest and Conservation Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forest-and-conservation-workers): $43,680 median pay
- [Conservation Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/conservation-scientists): $73,010 median pay
- [Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forest-fire-inspectors-and-prevention-specialists): $56,870 median pay
- [First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-farming-fishing-and-forestry-workers): $59,320 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.