Forest and Conservation Technicians
SOC 19-4071 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Forest and Conservation Technicians is $51,880, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $54,260, and an estimated 28,740 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +33.2% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +13.2% after inflation. BLS projects employment will shrink 3.2% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Forest and Conservation Technicians has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $51,880 | $51,880 | 28,740 |
| 2022 | $41,520 | $43,229 | 29,120 |
| 2021 | $39,290 | $44,181 | 30,440 |
| 2020 | $38,940 | $45,845 | 30,150 |
Nominal change
+33.2%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+13.2%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-3.2%
Declining
Employment 2024
33,800
Projected 2034
32,700
Annual Openings
3,900
Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Forest and Conservation Technicians earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $51,880. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $60,170 | +16% | 100 |
| California | $58,510 | +12.8% | 6,010 |
| Big Thicket Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $58,430 | +12.6% | 40 |
| Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $58,010 | +11.8% | 40 |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $57,800 | +11.4% | 40 |
| Louisiana | $57,760 | +11.3% | 220 |
| Oregon | $56,530 | +9% | 2,210 |
| Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $56,530 | +9% | 800 |
| Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $56,530 | +9% | 240 |
| Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $56,530 | +9% | 310 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$34,570
25th Pct
$40,540
Median
$51,880
75th Pct
$63,810
90th Pct
$78,420
Related Occupations in Life, Physical & Social Science
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
All Life, Physical & Social Science occupations →