Occupation · SOC 19-4071
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.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
408 mapped
Core skills
Critical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionTime ManagementSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingSocial PerceptivenessMonitoringInstructingCoordinationWritingSystems AnalysisService OrientationLearning StrategiesComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningPersuasionOperations MonitoringManagement of Personnel ResourcesSystems EvaluationScienceOperation and ControlMathematicsQuality Control AnalysisNegotiationEquipment SelectionTroubleshootingTechnology DesignRepairingProgrammingManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesEquipment MaintenanceOperations AnalysisInstallation
Knowledge areas
Public Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceLaw and GovernmentGeographyAdministration and ManagementMathematicsEducation and TrainingBiologyMechanicalComputers and ElectronicsPersonnel and Human ResourcesProduction and ProcessingCommunications and MediaTelecommunicationsHistory and ArcheologyEngineering and TechnologyTransportationPsychologyPhysicsAdministrativeDesignChemistryBuilding and ConstructionEconomics and AccountingSociology and AnthropologySales and MarketingFood ProductionTherapy and CounselingForeign LanguageMedicine and DentistryPhilosophy and TheologyFine Arts
Technology & tools
Allegro LandmarkAssisi CompilerAssisi ForestAssisi InventoryAtterbury Consultants SuperAceAutodesk AutoCAD LTBen Meadows Yeoman ExpeditionComputer aided design CAD softwareComputer graphics softwareCorel PresentationDatabase softwareDesktop publishing softwareESRI ArcGIS softwareESRI ArcViewFacebookFire behavior modeling softwareForest EcoSurveyGeographic information system GIS systemsGeomechanical design analysis GDA softwareHARVESTHaglof Sweden AB TCruise Forest InventoryJRP Consulting Plant WizardJRP Consulting Survey WizardLJI Technologies LumberjackLeica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINELoggerPC softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Active Server Pages ASPMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordPhoenixPRO Forest Activity TrackingPhotogrammetric softwareRemote sensing softwareRockWare ArcMapSpreadsheet softwareTraverse PCUSDA Forest Vegetation Simulator FVS
Representative tasks
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkGetting InformationInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeScheduling Work and ActivitiesProcessing InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationPerforming General Physical ActivitiesMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersWorking with ComputersHandling and Moving ObjectsDeveloping and Building TeamsTraining and Teaching OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersDocumenting/Recording InformationEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicAnalyzing Data or InformationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersCoaching and Developing OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleControlling Machines and ProcessesThinking CreativelyInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentPerforming Administrative ActivitiesAssisting and Caring for OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Hand tools and basic chemical applicators — use under direct supervision to thin trees and control undergrowth on an assigned forest tract.Tree seedling planting protocols — follow step-by-step instructions during seasonal planting activities on a conservation crew.Forest and park patrol routes — complete assigned foot or vehicle patrols under supervisor guidance to monitor resource conditions.Environmental protection regulations — read and recite key rules to members of the public under the direction of a senior technician.Basic digital mapping software — enter field data into pre-configured map layers under supervision at a district field office.Fire safety procedures — recognize hazardous conditions and report findings to a lead technician during routine patrol activities.Field observation notes — record accurate written observations of wildlife, vegetation, and land conditions using standardized forms.Inventory management software — log equipment and supply quantities into a database under the guidance of a resource manager.Geographic features and terminology — identify terrain types, watershed boundaries, and vegetation zones on standard topographic maps.Active listening skills — receive and clarify task instructions from supervisors and experienced crew members before beginning field assignments.
developing
Manual tools and approved herbicides — apply independently to thin stands and suppress invasive undergrowth across multiple forest units.Seasonal conservation workers — assist in orienting and guiding crew members during tree seedling planting and recreational facility maintenance tasks.Resource utilization and accident prevention regulations — explain requirements accurately to visitors and contractors during routine park or forest patrols.Patrol schedules and incident reports — manage independently across assigned zones, documenting resource damage, violations, and wildlife activity.GIS and digital mapping systems — compile and update forest tract data from field surveys, producing draft maps for supervisor review.Fire suppression support activities — coordinate assigned crew roles during initial attack operations following established incident command protocols.Analytical or scientific software — enter and interpret vegetation density, growth, and treatment data to support district resource assessments.Time management across concurrent projects — balance patrol duties, treatment schedules, and reporting deadlines with limited supervisory oversight.Public inquiries about conservation programs — respond clearly and professionally using knowledge of local ecology, regulations, and agency policy.CAD and presentation software — prepare basic visual aids and maps to support team briefings on treatment plans and project outcomes.
proficient
Thinning and weed-control programs — plan, execute, and evaluate outcomes autonomously across large, ecologically diverse forest tracts.Seasonal work crews — train, lead, and evaluate performance of forest and conservation workers in planting, fire response, and facility maintenance activities.Regulatory compliance reviews — assess land use activities for adherence to environmental protection, fire safety, and resource law, issuing notices when warranted.Multi-zone patrol operations — design and manage patrol strategies that efficiently cover extensive park or forest areas, adjusting for seasonal risk factors.Digital mapping and GIS systems — produce accurate, publication-ready forest tract maps by integrating field survey data, aerial imagery, and agency databases.Complex problem solving in the field — diagnose non-routine resource damage, pest outbreaks, or erosion events and implement evidence-based corrective actions.Systems analysis of forest health indicators — synthesize biological, hydrological, and land-use data to identify trends and recommend management interventions.Written technical reports — author detailed project assessments, environmental monitoring summaries, and regulatory findings for agency records and stakeholder distribution.Interagency coordination — serve as a primary field contact with law enforcement, fire agencies, and tribal or private landowners on shared resource concerns.Inventory and resource management software — administer equipment, chemical, and seed inventories at the district level, ensuring compliance with procurement standards.
advanced
District-wide conservation and forest management strategy — develop and direct multi-year operational plans aligned with agency mandates and ecological sustainability goals.Technician and crew development programs — design training curricula and mentorship pathways that build field competency across all seasonal and permanent staff.Regulatory policy interpretation and implementation — translate new environmental protection and land-use legislation into enforceable field protocols adopted organization-wide.Risk assessment frameworks for fire and resource protection — establish patrol prioritization models and early-warning systems used across multiple forest districts.GIS and geospatial program leadership — oversee agency-wide digital mapping standards, data governance, and integration of emerging remote-sensing technologies.Cross-agency and stakeholder engagement — lead collaborative resource planning with federal, state, tribal, and private partners to resolve complex land management conflicts.Budget and personnel administration — manage district operating budgets, staffing allocations, and performance evaluations to optimize conservation program outcomes.Strategic learning and adaptive management — institutionalize systematic review of treatment effectiveness data and redirect program resources based on evidence-based findings.Public communication and policy advocacy — represent the agency at public hearings, legislative briefings, and professional conferences to advance conservation priorities.Organizational systems evaluation — analyze workforce structures, technology adoption, and operational workflows, recommending and leading reforms that improve district-level efficiency and safety.
Also known as
20 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Biological Science AideConservation AgentConservation OfficerConservation TechnicianField Technician (Field Tech)Forest TechnicianForester AideForestry Aid TechnicianForestry AideForestry Aide TechnicianForestry Technician (Forestry Tech)Grazing AideGrazing ExaminerNatural Resources TechnicianPark Technician (Park Tech)Range TechnicianResource TechnicianTimber AppraiserTimber Management TechnicianTimber Sale Preparation Forestry Technician (Timber Sale Preparation Forestry Tech)