Forest and Conservation Workers

More data on this career

Industries that employ this career. The largest shares of forest and conservation workers work in Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (38%), Administrative, Support and Waste Management (36%) and Public Administration (9%) (Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2024).

Where the jobs are, and what they pay by industry. Nationwide, the industries that employ the most forest and conservation workers are State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (52% of the jobs counted, median pay $43,680), Social Advocacy Organizations (28% of the jobs counted, median pay $38,690), Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (18% of the jobs counted, median pay $40,150), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (2% of the jobs counted, median pay $44,740) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). Among large industries, the highest median pay is in State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals ($43,680), Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals ($40,150), Social Advocacy Organizations ($38,690). Pay differs by industry for many reasons, including the mix of jobs and where employers are located.

Injury and illness rates. For forest and conservation workers, employers reported 728.0 nonfatal injury and illness cases with days away from work per 10,000 full-time workers, compared with 94.6 for all U.S. workers; the median case kept the worker away 6 days (all workers: 8) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023-2024). Rates reflect the work setting as well as the occupation.

Union membership. In the broad group "Farming, fishing, and forestry", which includes this career, 2.4% of wage and salary workers belong to a union (all U.S. workers: 10.0%) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, 2025). This is a group figure, not specific to forest and conservation workers.

Employer benefits. In the broad group "Natural resources, construction, and maintenance", which includes this career, 74% of civilian workers had access to an employer retirement plan, 79% had access to employer medical care benefits, and 78% had paid sick leave, 86% paid vacation and 89% paid holidays (all civilian workers: 75%, 74%, 83%, 77% and 79%) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey, March 2026). This is a group figure, not specific to forest and conservation workers, and having access to a benefit does not mean every worker uses it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has not endorsed this presentation. Employers spent about $48.59 per hour worked on total compensation for the occupational group "Natural resources, construction, and maintenance" in June 2026 ($32.96 in wages and salaries and $15.63 in benefits, 32.2% of the total; all civilian workers: $49.46, with 31.6% in benefits) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation).

Work environment. In O*NET's survey of workers in this occupation, the conditions most often placed at the two highest levels for forest and conservation workers are: outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions (100%), face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams (99%), in an enclosed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (98%), telephone conversations (97%), e-mail (97%), freedom to make decisions (89%). Each percentage is the share of respondents choosing the top two levels for that condition (for example 'most of the time' or 'continually'), so it describes how common the condition is in the job, not how a particular workplace is (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).

Typical preparation. In O*NET's survey of workers in this occupation, for related work experience, the most common answer (32% of 20 respondents) was "over 2 years, up to and including 4 years"; for on-site or in-plant training, the most common answer (41% of 20 respondents) was "up to and including 1 month"; for on-the-job training, the most common answer (29% of 20 respondents) was "anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month". These are what workers report is needed to do the job; employers' requirements and individual paths vary (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).

Related careers. O*NET lists these occupations as similar to forest and conservation workers in the work done and the skills used: Forest and Conservation Technicians, Foresters, Range Managers, Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists, Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse, Conservation Scientists, Tree Trimmers and Pruners, First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).

Compare forest and conservation workers with other careers (pay, growth, openings and education side by side).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 PUMS (MajorPays' own estimates from the survey; Census is credited as the source of the original data and has not endorsed them); BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses; BLS Current Population Survey; BLS National Compensation Survey (employee benefits); HRSA National Center for Health Workforce Analysis; U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (LCA disclosure data, FY2025). MajorPays has selected and reorganized these figures; these agencies have not approved or endorsed them. See it interactively →