Average Forest And Conservation Technicians Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Forest And Conservation Technicians is $54,310 per year. The middle 50% earn between $42,560 and $66,020, with 31,080 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates . Data covers 43 states and 95 metro areas.
Wage range
Pay distribution
Here is how Forest And Conservation Technicians pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $36,190
- 25th
- $42,560
- Median
- $54,310
- 75th
- $66,020
- 90th
- $80,790
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Forest And Conservation Technicians earn close to the national median for all US workers. Solidly middle-income.
The spread between entry-level and top-end pay is typical for US occupations. Experience and specialization matter, but the range is not unusually wide.
BLS projections
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for forest and conservation technicians from 2024 to 2034. This occupation is projected to shrink. Workers may face more competition for fewer openings, and the role may see automation or consolidation pressure.
- Projected growth
- -3.2%
- -1,100 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 3,900
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave. Annual openings reflect typical replacement demand alongside any growth.
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
Where Forest And Conservation Technicians earn the most
Location matters for pay. The top-paying state is noticeably above the national median, so relocating to a higher-paying market can meaningfully boost earnings. Right now, the top-paying state is Maryland at $67,450, about 24.2% above the national median. At the metro level, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV leads with a median of $70,720.
By state
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $67,450 | 110 |
| Minnesota | $63,540 | 670 |
| California | $60,880 | 6,440 |
| Louisiana | $58,820 | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,910 | 380 |
| New York | $56,340 | 170 |
| Oregon | $55,810 | 2,750 |
| Alaska | $54,810 | 470 |
By metro
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $70,720 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $70,220 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $66,020 | 600 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $66,020 | 590 |
| Asheville, NC | $65,960 | 50 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $65,450 | 140 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $65,230 | 130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $65,060 | 340 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see forest and conservation technicians pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2024, the national median salary for Forest And Conservation Technicians rose from $45,500 to $54,310, a gain of +19.4% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +22.7%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $45,500 would need to be worth $55,828 in 2024 dollars.
The actual 2024 median of $54,310 is −$1,518 below that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of -2.7% in purchasing power.
Adjusted for inflation, pay has lost ground. Nominal growth of 19.4% has not kept up with rising prices.
- Nominal change
- +19.4%
- 2019–2024
- Cumulative inflation
- +22.7%
- US CPI, 2019–2024
- Real change
- -2.7%
- After adjusting for inflation
Annual history
Median salary over time
Forest And Conservation Technicians median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2019
- $45,500
- 2020
- $38,940
- 2021
- $39,290
- 2022
- $41,520
- 2023
- $51,880
- 2024
- $54,310
Similar jobs
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Biological Technicians
- $52,000
- Chemical Technicians
- $57,790
- Hydrologic Technicians
- $58,570
- Food Science Technicians
- $49,430
Common salary questions for Forest And Conservation Technicians
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Forest And Conservation Technicians workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.