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Forest technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$54,560median pay per year, or $26.23 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $40,330lowest 10% earn less
  2. $47,36025th percentile
  3. $54,560median
  4. $68,60075th percentile
  5. $83,630top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Forest and conservation technicians had a median pay of $54,560 a year in May 2025, above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Total employment is projected to fall 2.1% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-2.1%[3]
Openings per year
3,800[5]
Typical entry education
Associate's degree[6]

How much do forest technicians make?

The median pay for Forest and Conservation Technicians was $54,560 a year, or $26.23 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $59,060 a year, or $28.39 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $40,330 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $83,630[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][9] $40,330 $19.39
25th percentile[4][9] $47,360 $22.77
Median[1] $54,560 $26.23
75th percentile[4][9] $68,600 $32.98
90th percentile[4][9] $83,630 $40.21

These figures cover wage and salary workers, part-time and full-time. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[10]. About 30,410 people held these jobs[11].

Pay by state and city

North Dakota had the highest state median at $68,600, followed by Alaska at $68,160 and Maryland at $64,980[12]. Missouri had the lowest published state median at $33,920[12].

California had the most jobs at 6,640, followed by Oregon (2,530), Idaho (2,020), Montana (1,760) and Arizona (1,310)[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Carson City, NV had the highest median at $67,040[14]. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV was next at $66,930, then Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ at $65,690[14]. Three California areas each had 590 jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario and Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom[15].

Show median pay in 45 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
North Dakota[12]$68,600160
Alaska$68,160500
Maryland$64,980130
Wisconsin$62,700620
Louisiana$59,370210
Minnesota$58,990580
California$58,1206,640
New York$58,030190
Colorado$57,5501,040
Pennsylvania$57,370420
Alabama$56,720180
Arizona$56,6601,310
Massachusetts$56,480n/a
Oregon$55,9102,530
South Carolina$55,910180
South Dakota$54,770350
West Virginia$54,600100
Nevada$54,230750
Vermont$54,16050
Washington$54,1601,160
Oklahoma$53,930130
Arkansas$53,290310
Idaho$53,2902,020
Wyoming$53,290560
New Mexico$53,000880
Illinois$52,790820
Florida$52,420380
Mississippi$52,420250
Montana$52,4201,760
Texas$52,200600
Iowa$52,000380
Nebraska$51,630100
New Hampshire$51,63060
Georgia$50,710230
Hawaii$50,040140
Virginia$49,960380
Ohio$48,840230
Indiana$48,660150
North Carolina$48,360650
Tennessee$47,940390
Utah$47,9401,140
Michigan$45,760560
Kentucky$43,660240
Kansas$41,660170
Missouri$33,920600

How to become a forest technician

BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no related work experience and no typical on-the-job training[6].

In an ONET survey of 28 workers, 35% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required and 35% said an associate's degree or other 2-year degree[16]. Another 14% named a bachelor's degree and 10% some college courses[16]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Three, which it describes as needing medium preparation[17]. Sample job titles include forestry aide, resource technician and timber appraiser[18].

What forest technicians do

O*NET describes the job as giving technical help with conserving soil, water, forests and related natural resources[19]. Tasks include[20]:

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 32,800 to 32,200 jobs, a change of 700 jobs[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[21]. These counts include self-employed workers[3].

Even so, about 3,800 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings include jobs that open when people retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.3% of workers leave the labor force and 9.5% move to a different occupation[22].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show pay slightly above the all-occupations median, at $54,560 against $50,980[1][2]. Entry typically calls for an associate's degree[6]. Total employment is projected to shrink a little while all occupations grow[3][21]. Openings still come up each year as people change occupations or leave the labor force[5][22]. Related roles with a bachelor's degree entry level paid more, such as foresters at $76,400[23].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[23].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a forest technician make an hour?
The median was $26.23 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $19.39 and the 90th was $40.21[9].
What degree do you need to be a forest technician?
BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry education[6].
Is forest technician work in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, but about 3,800 openings a year are expected[3][5].
What is the highest paying state for forest technicians?
North Dakota, with a median of $68,600, followed by Alaska at $68,160[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Forest and Conservation Technicians in the US was $54,560 per year and $26.23 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Forest and Conservation Technicians is projected to decline 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 32,800 to 32,200 jobs (a change of -700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Forest and Conservation Technicians: 10th percentile $40,330, 25th percentile $47,360, 75th percentile $68,600, 90th percentile $83,630. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 3,800 openings for Forest and Conservation Technicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Forest and Conservation Technicians: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Forest and Conservation Technicians was $59,060 per year and $28.39 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Forest and Conservation Technicians: 10th percentile $19.39, 25th percentile $22.77, 75th percentile $32.98, 90th percentile $40.21. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 30,410 people were employed as Forest and Conservation Technicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Forest and Conservation Technicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Forest and Conservation Technicians jobs: California 6,640; Oregon 2,530; Idaho 2,020; Montana 1,760; Arizona 1,310. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Forest and Conservation Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): Carson City, NV $67,040; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $66,930; Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $65,690; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $64,440; Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $63,300; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $63,150; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $62,400; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $61,880. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Forest and Conservation Technicians jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 590 (median $61,110); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 590 (median $63,150); Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 590; Boise City, ID 440 (median $57,660); Bend, OR 430 (median $58,990); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 380 (median $49,630). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 19-4071.00 survey of workers (28 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 35%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 35%, Bachelor's Degree 14%, Some College Courses 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET 19-4071.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET 19-4071.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Biological Science Aide, Forest Technician, Forestry Aide, Forestry Technician (Forestry Tech), Resource Technician, Timber Appraiser. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET description of Forest and Conservation Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET task list for Forest and Conservation Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  21. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Forest and Conservation Technicians: 2.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 9.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.