Forest and Conservation Workers Salary
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations · 6.0K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$43,680
Median hourly
$21
Average annual
$43,680
Typical range
$33,780–$57,220
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Forest and Conservation Workers is $43,680 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $21 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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..
Most earn between $33,780 and $57,220 a year. There are roughly 6.0K people employed as forest and conservation workers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Forest and Conservation Workers.
- Hourly
- $21.00
- Daily
- $168
- Weekly
- $840
- Bi-weekly
- $1,680
- Monthly
- $3,640
- Annual
- $43,680
$43,680 a year is around the 50th percentile for Forest and Conservation Workerss. The median is $43,680.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Idaho$59,460
- 2Hawaii$56,330
- 3Virginia$54,560
- 4Massachusetts$51,890
- 5Pennsylvania$50,250
- 6Ohio$48,470
- 7Arkansas$47,310
- 8Oregon$46,010
- 9Washington$44,430
- 10South Carolina$44,050
- 11California$43,680
- 12New Jersey$41,600
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI$52,850
- 2Pittsburgh, PA$51,330
- 3Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$51,300
- 4Rapid City, SD$50,110
- 5Cleveland, OH$48,470
- 6Columbus, OH$47,730
- 7New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$45,530
- 8Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$45,510
- 9Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$43,680
- 10Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$43,680
- 11Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$43,680
- 12Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$43,680
Related job titles
Employers advertise Forest and Conservation Workers roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Forest and Conservation Technicians$54,560
- Foresters$76,400
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660
- Conservation Scientists$73,010
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners$50,960
- Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation$46,340
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$59,320
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$58,430
What a Forest and Conservation Workers does
- 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.
- Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
- Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Forest and Conservation Workers make?
- The median annual wage for Forest and Conservation Workers is $43,680 ($21 per hour). Pay ranges from about $33,780 at the 10th percentile to $57,220 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Forest and Conservation Workers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $43,680, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Forest and Conservation Workerss the most?
- Idaho has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $59,460.
- Is Forest and Conservation Workers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 6.0K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Forest and Conservation Workers do?
- 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.; Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs..