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Forestry Technicians


Overview

Forestry Technicians

Introduction

Forestry technicians work as members of a forest management team under the direction of a professional forester. They collect data and information needed to make decisions about resources and resource depletion. They also help plan, supervise, and conduct the operations necessary to maintain and protect forest growth, including harvesting, replanting, and marketing of forest products. Forestry technicians understand the inventory methods and management skills required to produce wood fiber and forest products. They help manage fores...

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$27,460

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Employment Prospects

Fair

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Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma
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Experience

Internship or part-time job with a lumber company or conservation
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Skills

Math
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Personality Traits

Hands On
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Earnings

Salary levels vary greatly depending on employer and area of forestry. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, median wages for forest and conservation workers were $27,460 in May 2018. The top paid 10 percent of forest and conservation technicians earned more than $48,220, and the bottom paid 10 percent earned less than $21,940 a year. Forestry technicians who worked for state government ag...

Work Environment

Working hours for forestry technicians are fairly normal. Most technicians work eight-hour days, five days a week. In case of fires or other unusual situations, however, longer hours may be necessary.

Some of the work is physically demanding. In addition, technicians working in the field may occasionally have to deal with hazardous conditions such as forest fires.

For many technic...

Outlook

Employment for forest and conservation technicians is expected to decline through 2028, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, with job opportunities being the strongest at employers that manage state forests. Some tasks are being automated, which is reducing the need for technicians. One example: remote sensing technology is replacing the need for technicians to conduct tree ...