Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Forest and conservation workers support the care and management of forests and natural areas. Nationally, this occupation has a median annual salary of $43,680 and employs about 11,000 workers. The field is projected to see a -4.7% change in employment, yet there are still an estimated 2,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing turnover and hiring needs. The work draws on a mix of physical strength and stamina, mechanical ability, and science knowledge, along with problem solving, adaptability, and fine motor skills. Customer service, speaking and listening, and creativity also play a role, suggesting interaction with others and the need to address on-the-ground challenges. With a typical entry point of a high school diploma or equivalent, this role can appeal to people seeking hands-on, skill-based work. Similar occupations include inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers; parking enforcement workers; animal caretakers; farmworkers for farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals; and physical therapist aides.
Forest and conservation workers earn a national median annual salary of $43,680. Pay varies by state and metro, giving candidates options depending on location preferences. Among top states by opportunity score, Massachusetts has the highest listed median salary at $51,890, followed by Washington at $44,430 and California at $43,680. Colorado and Minnesota show lower medians of $37,690 and $39,590, respectively. At the metro level, the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area stands out with a median salary of $51,300, while New York-Newark-Jersey City offers $45,530 and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue offers $45,510. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim matches the national median at $43,680, and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington comes in at $39,490. These differences show that earnings can shift meaningfully across markets, so comparing both state and metro medians can be an important part of planning.
Forest and conservation workers have national employment of about 11,000, with projected employment growth of -4.7%. Despite this projected decline, the occupation is expected to have about 2,000 annual openings. This combination suggests that even as overall employment is projected to shrink, there will continue to be opportunities for new workers to enter the field, likely as existing workers leave or move to other roles. The projected growth rate of -4.7% is consistent across the top states and metros listed, indicating a similar outlook in those highlighted regions. People considering this path may want to factor in both the negative growth projection and the steady level of annual openings when assessing long-term prospects. For those who decide this role is not the right fit, similar occupations such as inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers; parking enforcement workers; animal caretakers; farmworkers; and physical therapist aides may offer other avenues to explore.
Career conditions for forest and conservation workers differ across states and metro areas, as shown by the opportunity scores, salaries, and employment levels. Among states, California has the highest employment at 2,270 and a median salary matching the national median of $43,680, with an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts combines a smaller workforce of 120 with the highest listed state median salary of $51,890 and an opportunity score of 65.87. Colorado, Washington, and Minnesota have lower employment counts but still appear among the top opportunity states, with median salaries ranging from $37,690 to $44,430 and opportunity scores from 49.59 to 56.97. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City stands out with the highest opportunity score of 77.27, along with a $45,530 median salary. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington also offer notable combinations of salaries, employment, and opportunity scores for this occupation.
The typical education for forest and conservation workers is a high school diploma or equivalent, making this an accessible option for individuals who have not completed postsecondary education. Success in this role, however, depends on a broad mix of skills beyond formal schooling. Physical strength and stamina are important, as is fine motor ability, pointing to work that can be both physically demanding and detail-oriented. Science and mechanical skills are also highlighted, indicating that understanding basic scientific concepts and working with tools or equipment can be valuable. Problem solving, decision making, and adaptability suggest that workers need to respond to changing conditions and make sound judgments. Customer service, speaking and listening skills, and creativity and innovation round out the profile, showing that communication and interpersonal abilities matter alongside technical and physical capabilities. Computers and information technology skills are also noted, reinforcing the benefit of being comfortable with basic digital tools in this field.
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