What Does a Forestry Technician Do?
Although foresters write the plans, technicians gather much of the data behind them and carry out the fieldwork that follows. Forestry technicians measure trees, mark timber sales, fight wildfires, maintain roads and trails and collect research data in public, private and university forests, often far from the nearest paved road.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Biological Science Aide, Forest Technician, Forestry Aide, Forestry Technician (Forestry Tech), Resource Technician, Timber Appraiser.
Forestry Technician Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a forestry technician include:
- Measure tree diameter, height and defects on inventory plots using calipers, tapes and clinometers.
- Mark trees for harvest or thinning according to the forester's prescription.
- Run GPS units and tablets to map plot centers, boundaries and roads.
- Inspect active logging jobs for contract, safety and water-quality compliance.
- Serve on wildfire crews and help carry out prescribed burns when qualified.
- Plant seedlings and monitor their survival in reforestation areas.
- Collect research data such as soil samples, growth measurements and wildlife observations.
- Maintain trails, culverts, gates and signs, using chainsaws and hand tools.
- Enter field data into spreadsheets or GIS and flag odd readings for the forester.
- Drive and maintain trucks, ATVs and field equipment on rough forest roads.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a forestry technician, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Tree identification and forest measurement
- GPS, GIS and field data apps
- Chainsaw operation with proper safety gear
- Wildland fire red card, required for fire duty
- Map and compass navigation
- Physical fitness for long days on foot
- Careful, honest data recording
- Associate degree in forestry or forest technology
Education and Training
Experience on a trail crew, fire crew or tree-planting job could lead to a technician post. Most employers look for an associate degree in forestry or forest technology, which BLS gives as the typical entry level for forest and conservation technicians. Technician I staff usually reach Level II after a few seasons, and a bachelor's degree opens the way to forester jobs. Fire training adds options.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $47,360 - $68,600 per year, with a median of $54,560.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Forest and Conservation Technicians.
According to BLS, employment of forest and conservation technicians is projected to decline about 2 percent for the decade ending in 2035. Much of the hiring is seasonal or tied to public budgets, so steady year-round posts can take a few seasons to land. BLS still expects roughly 3,800 openings a year, and technicians with fire qualifications and GIS skills are more likely to be kept on between seasons.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Forest and conservation technicians.
Forestry Technician Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $40,330 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $47,360 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $54,560 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $68,600 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $83,630 |
Highest-Paying States for Forestry Technicians
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are North Dakota ($68,600), Alaska ($68,160), Maryland ($64,980), Wisconsin ($62,700), Louisiana ($59,370). Pay is lowest in Kentucky ($43,660), Kansas ($41,660), Missouri ($33,920).
Median pay in all 45 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $56,720 |
| Alaska | $68,160 |
| Arizona | $56,660 |
| Arkansas | $53,290 |
| California | $58,120 |
| Colorado | $57,550 |
| Florida | $52,420 |
| Georgia | $50,710 |
| Hawaii | $50,040 |
| Idaho | $53,290 |
| Illinois | $52,790 |
| Indiana | $48,660 |
| Iowa | $52,000 |
| Kansas | $41,660 |
| Kentucky | $43,660 |
| Louisiana | $59,370 |
| Maryland | $64,980 |
| Massachusetts | $56,480 |
| Michigan | $45,760 |
| Minnesota | $58,990 |
| Mississippi | $52,420 |
| Missouri | $33,920 |
| Montana | $52,420 |
| Nebraska | $51,630 |
| Nevada | $54,230 |
| New Hampshire | $51,630 |
| New Mexico | $53,000 |
| New York | $58,030 |
| North Carolina | $48,360 |
| North Dakota | $68,600 |
| Ohio | $48,840 |
| Oklahoma | $53,930 |
| Oregon | $55,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,370 |
| South Carolina | $55,910 |
| South Dakota | $54,770 |
| Tennessee | $47,940 |
| Texas | $52,200 |
| Utah | $47,940 |
| Vermont | $54,160 |
| Virginia | $49,960 |
| Washington | $54,160 |
| West Virginia | $54,600 |
| Wisconsin | $62,700 |
| Wyoming | $53,290 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as forest and conservation technicians about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 99% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 82% use email every day
- 69% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 67% are on the phone every day
- 58% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 57% spend more than half the day walking or moving around
- 53% have a lot of freedom to make decisions
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 35% |
| Associate's degree | 35% |
| Bachelor's degree | 14% |
| Some college | 10% |
Tools and Software Forestry Technicians Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management.
Knowledge areas used most: Public Safety and Security, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Law and Government, Administration and Management.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 3 of 5, which means medium preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 19-4071.00 (Forest and Conservation Technicians). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 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. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.