# Forest and Conservation Workers

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forest-and-conservation-workers
- SOC code: 45-4011.00
- Career family: Farming, fishing and forestry
- Median annual pay: $43,680 (10th percentile $33,780, 90th percentile $57,220)
- Projected growth: Decline, -1.5%
- Openings a year: 2,200
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 39 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 28 |
| Enterprising (E) | 34 |
| Conventional (C) | 51 |

## What you'd do

- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 87/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 80/100)
- Getting Information (importance 74/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 74/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 70/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 69/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 67/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 67/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 66/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 63/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Active Learning, Active Listening, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management

## Knowledge

Public Safety and Security, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management, Geography, Biology, Communications and Media, Transportation, Education and Training, Computers and Electronics

## Also called

Blister Rust Eradicator, Box Chipper, Box Cutter, Brusher, Chemical Sprayer, Chopper, Christmas Tree Farm Worker, Christmas Tree Farmer, Christmas Tree Grader, Christmas Tree Grower

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

- [Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0106) (CIP 0106, 283 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 |
| [California Polytechnic State University-Humboldt](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-humboldt-361) | Forestry | $45,692 | $79,849 | $19,122 |
| [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 |
| [Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brigham-young-university-provo-byu-utah-302) | Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | $49,925 | $71,066 | not reported |
| [University of Georgia](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-georgia-2912) | Forestry | not reported | $68,965 | not reported |
| [Colorado State University-Fort Collins](https://www.collegesref.com/college/colorado-state-university-fort-collins-644) | Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | $57,269 | $66,984 | not reported |
| [Louisiana Tech University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/louisiana-tech-university-1547) | Forestry | $54,749 | $65,941 | $21,130 |
| [Auburn University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/auburn-university-141) | Forestry | not reported | $64,704 | $18,500 |

## Related careers

- [Forest and Conservation Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forest-and-conservation-technicians): $54,560 median pay
- [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 Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forest-fire-inspectors-and-prevention-specialists): $56,870 median pay
- [Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/farmworkers-and-laborers-crop-nursery-and-greenhouse): $35,660 median pay
- [Conservation Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/conservation-scientists): $73,010 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.