Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$45,000
National baseline
Target bonus
$3,500
8% of base
Total target cash
$48,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$2,00050th$3,50075th$5,500
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
About this role
Forest and Conservation Workers is a professional role within the function in the Farming, Fishing, and Forestry job family.
Typical entry preparation: High School Diploma and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.
Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.
Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking or measuring efforts.
Top skills:MonitoringCritical ThinkingSpeakingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingCoordination
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Forest and Conservation Workers pay by experience level
Entry level$35,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$39,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$45,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$47,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$59,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-4.7%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,000
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Forest and Conservation Workers salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
3,880 workers
$45,500
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
2,880 workers
$45,000
Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations
1,640 workers
$43,500
Social Advocacy Organizations
1,520 workers
$43,000
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
1,000 workers
$46,500
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions
100 workers
$47,000
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions
100 workers
$47,000
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
50 workers
$42,000
Educational Services
30 workers
$49,500
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations$56,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.
Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.
Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking or measuring efforts.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Forest and Conservation Workers pays 11% below the average across 13 roles in the Farming, Fishing, and Forestry job family (family average $50,500).
Similar-paying roles in Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Need Forest and Conservation Workers pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
