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Forest and Conservation Workers

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$43,680	2100	-3.8%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$43,680

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

2100

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

-3.8%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

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.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Up to and including 1 month

On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month

Detailed Work Activities

Sort forestry or agricultural materials.
Inspect equipment or facilities to determine condition or maintenance needs.
Communicate with other workers to coordinate activities.
Perform forest firefighting activities.
Perform forest firefighting activities.
Determine forestry techniques or methods.
Cut trees or logs.
Evaluate quality of plants or crops.
Cut trees or logs.
Apply chemical solutions to plants to protect against disease or insects or to enhance growth.
Trim trees or other vegetation.
Operate forestry equipment.
Record agricultural or forestry inventory data.
Build agricultural structures.
Trim trees or other vegetation.
Operate forestry equipment.
Plant crops, trees, or other plants.
Perform manual agricultural, aquacultural, or horticultural tasks.
Advise others on farming or forestry operations, regulations, or equipment.
Operate forestry equipment.
Clean equipment or facilities.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

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.

Work Styles

Integrity

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Achievement/Effort

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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