Occupation · SOC 45-4011
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.
Median wage
$43,680
$33,050–$54,190
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
5,630
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
99 mapped
Core skills
MonitoringCritical ThinkingSpeakingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingCoordinationActive ListeningActive LearningTime ManagementComplex Problem SolvingSocial PerceptivenessOperations MonitoringWritingOperation and ControlLearning StrategiesService OrientationPersuasionSystems AnalysisInstructingEquipment MaintenanceTroubleshootingRepairingQuality Control AnalysisMathematicsManagement of Personnel ResourcesEquipment SelectionSystems EvaluationScienceNegotiationManagement of Material ResourcesTechnology DesignProgrammingManagement of Financial ResourcesOperations AnalysisInstallation
Knowledge areas
Public Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministration and ManagementGeographyBiologyCommunications and MediaTransportationEducation and TrainingLaw and GovernmentComputers and ElectronicsPersonnel and Human ResourcesMechanicalAdministrativeMathematicsPsychologyTelecommunicationsChemistryPhysicsHistory and ArcheologyBuilding and ConstructionDesignEngineering and TechnologyProduction and ProcessingMedicine and DentistryTherapy and CounselingEconomics and AccountingSociology and AnthropologySales and MarketingForeign LanguagePhilosophy and TheologyFine ArtsFood Production
Technology & tools
Database softwareESRI ArcGIS softwareGeographic information system GIS softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsIBM Lotus 1-2-3IBM Lotus NotesLeica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINEMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordWord processing software
Representative tasks
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentPerforming General Physical ActivitiesGetting InformationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsHandling and Moving ObjectsPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicProcessing InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDocumenting/Recording InformationThinking CreativelyRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsWorking with ComputersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationControlling Machines and ProcessesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationAnalyzing Data or InformationScheduling Work and ActivitiesDeveloping and Building TeamsTraining and Teaching OthersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesCoaching and Developing OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentAssisting and Caring for OthersDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Hand tools (planting bars, hoedads, hand saws) — use safely under a crew lead's direction on a planting unit.Personal protective equipment (hardhats, chaps, boots, eye-and-ear) — apply consistently in the woods.Daily safety briefings (terrain, weather, equipment, wildlife) — participate and apply on the unit.Standard planting patterns and spacing — execute per the contract or crew lead's call.Hand-saw and brush-tool work — perform on routine release or trail maintenance.Seedling handling (storage, transport, watering) — perform per the nursery's protocol.Daily-task records (acres planted, hours, materials) — maintain accurately for the lead.Crew communications — relay clearly with the lead and other crews on the radio.Wildland-fire safety basics (LCES, fuels, escape routes) — recognize and apply on prescribed-fire-support assignments.Stream-crossing and BMP rules — follow without prompting on assigned units.
developing
Chainsaw work at the bucking and limbing level — operate safely with documented S-212 training.Brush-saw, weed-whip, and herbicide-application equipment — operate per the applicator's plan.Tree planting at production pace and quality — perform reliably across a season.Trail and erosion-control structures — build per design and BMPs.Prescribed-fire support tasks (firing, holding, mop-up) — execute under a burn boss's direction.Junior workers and new crews — train on safety, technique, and pace.Equipment maintenance (saws, vehicles, hand tools) — perform daily and weekly.Routine GPS-and-compass navigation — execute confidently on unfamiliar units.Wildlife and TES species protocols — follow per the unit's management plan.Customer-and-agency interactions — conduct on routine field visits.
proficient
Crew-boss leadership — supervise a 6–10-person crew across forestry and conservation contracts.Sawyer certifications (B and C) — hold and apply on prescribed-fire and restoration units.Contract execution and quality control — own from layout through acceptance.Crew safety and incident management — lead with measurable reductions in injuries.Cross-disciplinary projects (timber, wildlife, recreation) — coordinate with foresters and biologists.Continuous-improvement projects (planting quality, equipment uptime, fuel use) — lead with measurable outcomes.Junior crew bosses — mentor on contract management and personnel.Equipment fleets and shop coordination — manage at task level for the operation.Customer- and agency-relationship management — own at routine operations level.Wildland-fire qualifications (FFT1, FAL3, ICT5) — maintain across the season.
advanced
Operations leadership for a forestry or conservation contractor — set direction across staff, contracts, and equipment.Capital decisions (vehicles, equipment, training programs) — author with the owner or board.Major contracts with USFS, BLM, state, and private timber — own from bid through closeout.Workforce development and apprenticeship programs — build with conservation corps and tribal partners.Safety culture and incident-investigation programs — institutionalize across crews.Industry forums (logger associations, conservation networks) — represent the operation.Disaster response (fire, storm, insect) — lead at operation level with agencies and partners.Capital and operating budgets — own with executive sponsorship.Talent pipelines from rural and tribal communities — build with measurable retention.Legacy mentorship and field-shaping standards — institutionalize through training and certification.
Also known as
82 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Blister Rust EradicatorBox ChipperBox CutterBrusherChemical SprayerChopperChristmas Tree Farm WorkerChristmas Tree FarmerChristmas Tree GraderChristmas Tree GrowerCone PickerConservation CoordinatorConservation OfficerConservation SpecialistConservation WorkerDipperEnvironmental Field LaborerFern CutterFern GathererFern PickerField LaborerForest AideForest and Conservation WorkerForest Nursery WorkerForest Products GathererForest RangerForest Resource SpecialistForest WorkerForester AideForestry AideForestry Conservation WorkerForestry Farm LaborerForestry LaborerForestry Support SpecialistForestry WorkerGathererGreens PickerGrounds CrewmanGrowth HackerGum Dipper