Conservation Technician

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

• Median pay
  $54,560
  $26.23/hour · May 2025
• Job growth
  -2.1%
  2025–35, a projected decline
• Openings per year
  3,800
  Average, 2025–35
• Typical entry education
  Associate's degree
  BLS classification
• Time to train
  2 years
  Typical program length
• U.S. jobs
  32,800
  Employment, 2025

What conservation technicians do

Conservation technicians do the fieldwork behind managing forests, parks and rangelands. They measure trees and estimate timber volume, map stands with GPS, mark trees for harvest, monitor wildlife and invasive species, maintain trails and roads, plant seedlings and help with prescribed fire and firefighting.

Most work for the U.S. Forest Service, state forestry agencies, timber companies and conservation organizations. An associate degree in forestry or natural resources is common, and many start in seasonal jobs. The job suits people who want to spend most of their time outdoors.

Typical duties

• Measure trees and collect forest inventory data
• Map stands and boundaries with GPS and GIS
• Mark timber for harvest or thinning
• Monitor wildlife, water and invasive species
• Maintain trails, roads and recreation sites
• Plant trees and restore habitats
• Assist with prescribed burns and fire suppression

Work environment and schedule

Technicians work outdoors in forests, rangelands and parks in all weather, often hiking off-trail in rough terrain. Some work involves chainsaws and fire.

Schedule: Many jobs are seasonal, with long days in summer. Permanent positions run year-round with some office work in winter.

A day in the life

1. 7:00 AMLoad gear and drive to a forest stand with the crew.
2. 8:00 AMRun plots, measuring tree diameters and heights for a timber cruise.
3. 11:00 AMPaint-mark trees for a thinning project.
4. 1:00 PMMap an invasive plant infestation with GPS.

See a full day in the life of a conservation technician →

Conservation Technician salary

Half of conservation technicians earned more than $54,560 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $40,330 for the lowest 10% to $83,630 for the top 10%.

Full conservation technician pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a conservation technician

1. Study natural resources
2. Earn a forestry or natural resources degree
3. Get seasonal experience
4. Add certifications
5. Advance

An associate degree in forestry, forest technology or natural resources is typical. Some technicians have bachelor’s degrees or start in seasonal jobs with training.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a conservation technician →

Skills and tools

All conservation technician skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Certifications and licenses

• NWCG wildland firefighter training: Basic fire training for fire support duties.
• Chainsaw safety certification: Such as Game of Logging or agency sawyer certification.
• Wilderness first aid: First aid for remote work.
• GIS certificate: Training in mapping software.

Career path

1. Seasonal Technician: Collect data and maintain trails.
2. Conservation Technician: Lead fieldwork and inventories.
3. Lead Technician or Crew Lead: Supervise crews and projects.
4. Forester or Resource Specialist: Manage land with more education.

Learn the job before day one

Our Conservation Technician training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as measure DBH and tree height and run a fixed-radius plot, safety and how to land your first job.

Related careers

Compare: Conservation Technician vs. Environmental Technician · Conservation Technician vs. Forestry Worker · Conservation Technician vs. Fire Prevention Specialist · Conservation Technician vs. Agricultural Technician

More conservation technician questions →