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
Critical ThinkingMonitoringReading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningCoordination
Knowledge areas
Public Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministration and ManagementGeography
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareGeographic information systemSpreadsheet softwareElectronic mail softwareMap creation software
Representative tasks
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.Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking or measuring efforts.Explain or enforce regulations regarding camping, vehicle use, fires, use of buildings, or sanitation.Operate skidders, bulldozers, or other prime movers to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated.Spray or inject vegetation with insecticides to kill insects or to protect against disease or with herbicides to reduce competing vegetation.Thin or space trees, using power thinning saws.Identify diseased or undesirable trees and remove them, using power saws or hand saws.Select or cut trees according to markings or sizes, types, or grades.Prune or shear tree tops or limbs to control growth, increase density, or improve shape.Maintain campsites or recreational areas, replenishing firewood or other supplies and cleaning kitchens or restrooms.Erect signs or fences, using posthole diggers, shovels, or other hand tools.Select tree seedlings, prepare the ground, or plant the trees in reforestation areas, using manual planting tools.Provide assistance to forest survey crews by clearing site-lines, holding measuring tools, or setting stakes.Sort tree seedlings, discarding substandard seedlings, according to standard charts or verbal instructions.
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
98 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Grounds CrewmanConservation CoordinatorChopperTree KillerTree Tapping LaborerFern GathererTimber KillerForest AideGrowth HackerGreens PickerPest Management Journeyman (Air Force 3E453)HackerNatural Resources SpecialistConservation WorkerTree SapperForestry LaborerForest-Products GathererWoods LaborerPest Management Craftsman (Air Force 3E473)Forestry WorkerBlister Rust EradicatorTurpentinerWoodsmanForestry Conservation WorkerPine Straw GathererTree CoordinatorSeedling PullerPark MaintainerWetlands Conservation LaborerTree TrimmerPest Management Helper (Air Force 3E413)Seedling SorterChristmas Tree GrowerTimber DeadenerForestry Support SpecialistEnvironmental Field LaborerForest Nursery WorkerFire Protection Journeyman (Air Force 3E751)Christmas Tree Farm WorkerFire Protection Manager (Air Force 3E700)