Forest and Conservation Workers
Forest and Conservation Workers (SOC 45-4011) earn a median $43,680 a year ($21.00 an hour) in the United States, with 6,050 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Idaho.
What forest and conservation workers do
Forest and conservation workers work under supervision and perform the manual labor needed to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands. The activities named in the SOC definition include raising and transporting seedlings, combating insects, pests, and diseases that harm plant life, and building structures that control water, erosion, and the leaching of soil. Forester aides, seedling pullers, tree planters, and people who gather nontimber forest products like pine straw are part of the group. Some are called on for fire protection and suppression, which can mean fighting forest fires or doing prescribed burning under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians, constructing fire breaks, and disposing of brush. Workers check that their equipment is operating properly and talk with other workers about issues such as safety, cutting heights, or what work needs doing. Christmas tree farm worker, chemical sprayer, and blister rust eradicator are among the alternate titles O*NET lists.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: Blister Rust Eradicator, Box Chipper, Box Cutter, Brusher, Chemical Sprayer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.24 | $18.00 | $21.00 | $22.00 | $27.51 | $21.00 | 6,050 |
| Annual | $33,780 | $37,440 | $43,680 | $45,760 | $57,220 | $43,680 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where forest and conservation workers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Idaho | Hourly | $18.50 | $25.00 | $28.59 | $29.00 | $29.10 | $26.27 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $38,480 | $52,000 | $59,460 | $60,320 | $60,530 | $54,650 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $23.52 | $27.08 | $27.08 | $29.00 | $30.96 | $27.63 | 60 | 0.10 | 2.58 |
| Annual | $48,930 | $56,330 | $56,330 | $60,320 | $64,390 | $57,470 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $19.52 | $20.86 | $26.23 | $30.00 | $30.00 | $25.36 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $40,600 | $43,400 | $54,560 | $62,400 | $62,400 | $52,750 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $16.90 | $20.84 | $24.95 | $31.44 | $35.32 | $25.83 | 120 | 0.03 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $35,160 | $43,340 | $51,890 | $65,390 | $73,470 | $53,730 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $21.03 | $22.49 | $24.16 | $27.10 | $29.95 | $24.92 | 210 | 0.04 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $43,740 | $46,780 | $50,250 | $56,370 | $62,290 | $51,830 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $17.35 | $21.00 | $21.00 | $21.00 | $22.00 | $20.67 | 2,270 | 0.12 | 3.20 |
| Annual | $36,080 | $43,680 | $43,680 | $43,680 | $45,760 | $42,980 | ||||
| South Dakota | Hourly | $16.53 | $18.02 | $18.37 | $21.48 | $24.35 | $19.74 | 490 | 1.07 | 27.54 |
| Annual | $34,380 | $37,470 | $38,210 | $44,690 | $50,640 | $41,060 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $17.94 | $20.01 | $21.36 | $22.00 | $27.75 | $21.78 | 460 | 0.13 | 3.34 |
| Annual | $37,310 | $41,610 | $44,430 | $45,760 | $57,720 | $45,310 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $15.92 | $16.24 | $17.51 | $25.30 | $25.81 | $19.78 | 300 | 0.10 | 2.58 |
| Annual | $33,110 | $33,780 | $36,420 | $52,620 | $53,680 | $41,130 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $21.03 | $22.49 | $24.16 | $27.10 | $29.95 | $24.92 | 210 | 0.04 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $43,740 | $46,780 | $50,250 | $56,370 | $62,290 | $51,830 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | Hourly | $15.92 | $16.24 | $25.41 | $26.94 | $27.82 | $22.51 | 30 | 0.04 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $33,110 | $33,780 | $52,850 | $56,030 | $57,860 | $46,820 | ||||
| Pittsburgh, PA | Hourly | $18.16 | $23.10 | $24.68 | $27.10 | $29.47 | $24.69 | 30 | 0.03 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $37,780 | $48,050 | $51,330 | $56,370 | $61,300 | $51,360 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $16.90 | $17.95 | $24.67 | $28.15 | $34.18 | $24.90 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $35,160 | $37,340 | $51,300 | $58,560 | $71,090 | $51,790 | ||||
| Rapid City, SD | Hourly | $15.34 | $18.01 | $24.09 | $28.24 | $29.33 | $23.73 | 40 | 0.57 | 14.65 |
| Annual | $31,900 | $37,450 | $50,110 | $58,750 | $61,010 | $49,360 | ||||
| Cleveland, OH | Hourly | $23.30 | $23.30 | $23.31 | $23.31 | $27.90 | $24.68 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $48,470 | $48,470 | $48,470 | $48,470 | $58,030 | $51,340 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $16.50 | $18.31 | $21.00 | $21.00 | $21.00 | $20.09 | 370 | 0.06 | 1.53 |
| Annual | $34,320 | $38,080 | $43,680 | $43,680 | $43,680 | $41,790 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $17.73 | $21.00 | $21.00 | $21.00 | $21.00 | $20.51 | 330 | 0.30 | 7.78 |
| Annual | $36,880 | $43,680 | $43,680 | $43,680 | $43,680 | $42,650 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $17.97 | $21.63 | $21.88 | $23.89 | $28.32 | $23.11 | 220 | 0.11 | 2.73 |
| Annual | $37,370 | $44,980 | $45,510 | $49,690 | $58,910 | $48,070 | ||||
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | Hourly | $21.00 | $21.00 | $21.00 | $21.00 | $21.00 | $20.91 | 180 | 0.55 | 14.01 |
| Annual | $43,680 | $43,680 | $43,680 | $43,680 | $43,680 | $43,500 | ||||
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | Hourly | $18.02 | $18.02 | $18.02 | $21.25 | $24.35 | $19.65 | 150 | 0.82 | 20.95 |
| Annual | $37,470 | $37,470 | $37,470 | $44,200 | $50,640 | $40,870 | ||||
Top industries employing forest and conservation workers
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 47.6% of forest and conservation workers nationally (2,880 jobs) at a median $43,680 a year ($21.00 an hour), followed by Social Advocacy Organizations (25.1%) and Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (16.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 2,880 | 47.6% | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations NAICS 813300 | 1,520 | 25.1% | $38,690 | $18.60 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 1,000 | 16.5% | $40,150 | $19.30 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions NAICS 712100 | 100 | 1.7% | $44,740 | $21.51 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (6,050). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $30,550 for forest and conservation workers in May 2021 and $43,680 in May 2025, with employment of 6,300 and 6,050.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $30,550 | $14.69 | 6,300 |
| May 2022 | $32,270 | $15.51 | 6,080 |
| May 2023 | $33,940 | $16.32 | 5,750 |
| May 2024 | $43,680 | $21.00 | 5,630 |
| May 2025 | $43,680 | $21.00 | 6,050 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
28 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho profile | $28.59 | $59,460 | $38,480 | $60,530 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | Hawaii profile | $27.08 | $56,330 | $48,930 | $64,390 | 60 | 0.10 | 2.58 |
| 3 | Virginia profile | $26.23 | $54,560 | $40,600 | $62,400 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $24.95 | $51,890 | $35,160 | $73,470 | 120 | 0.03 | 0.87 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania profile | $24.16 | $50,250 | $43,740 | $62,290 | 210 | 0.04 | 0.90 |
| 6 | Ohio profile | $23.30 | $48,470 | $31,590 | $64,980 | 160 | 0.03 | 0.73 |
| 7 | Arkansas profile | $22.75 | $47,310 | $37,520 | $58,440 | 30 | 0.03 | 0.67 |
| 8 | Oregon profile | $22.12 | $46,010 | $38,470 | $63,110 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.97 |
| 9 | Washington profile | $21.36 | $44,430 | $37,310 | $57,720 | 460 | 0.13 | 3.34 |
| 10 | South Carolina profile | $21.18 | $44,050 | $37,260 | $58,890 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.48 |
| 11 | California profile | $21.00 | $43,680 | $36,080 | $45,760 | 2,270 | 0.12 | 3.20 |
| 12 | New Jersey profile | $20.00 | $41,600 | $33,280 | $56,910 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.23 |
| 13 | Tennessee profile | $19.39 | $40,320 | $31,200 | $44,430 | 210 | 0.06 | 1.62 |
| 14 | Louisiana profile | $19.19 | $39,900 | $30,270 | $52,740 | 150 | 0.08 | 1.93 |
| 15 | Minnesota profile | $19.03 | $39,590 | $35,780 | $55,160 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.27 |
| 16 | South Dakota profile | $18.37 | $38,210 | $34,380 | $50,640 | 490 | 1.07 | 27.54 |
| 17 | Colorado profile | $18.12 | $37,690 | $31,190 | $61,550 | 110 | 0.04 | 1.00 |
| 18 | Missouri profile | $17.87 | $37,170 | $36,750 | $45,360 | 120 | 0.04 | 1.09 |
| 19 | Florida profile | $17.68 | $36,780 | $35,160 | $50,120 | 70 | 0.01 | 0.17 |
| 20 | Wisconsin profile | $17.51 | $36,420 | $33,110 | $53,680 | 300 | 0.10 | 2.58 |
| 21 | New Mexico profile | $17.49 | $36,370 | $34,530 | $40,690 | 30 | 0.04 | 0.99 |
| 22 | Nevada profile | $17.19 | $35,760 | $34,810 | $51,570 | ** | ** | ** |
| 23 | Georgia profile | $16.42 | $34,150 | $23,430 | $79,070 | 160 | 0.03 | 0.85 |
| 24 | Connecticut profile | $16.35 | $34,010 | $34,010 | $55,390 | 40 | 0.03 | 0.66 |
| 25 | Iowa profile | $16.16 | $33,600 | $28,580 | $72,880 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.59 |
| 26 | Montana profile | $15.68 | $32,600 | $32,600 | $52,320 | ** | ** | ** |
| 27 | Texas profile | $14.65 | $30,470 | $30,470 | $32,720 | ** | ** | ** |
| – | North Carolina profile | * | * | * | * | 50 | 0.01 | 0.24 |
Part of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 45-4011 Forest and Conservation Workers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 45-4011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 45-4011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.