Job title · SOC 19-4071

Forestry Technician (USFS)

Also known as: forestry technician

Overview

Sourced

Provide technical assistance regarding the conservation of soil, water, forests, or related natural resources. May compile data pertaining to size, content, condition, and other characteristics of forest tracts under the direction of foresters, or train and lead forest workers in forest propagation and fire prevention and suppression. May assist conservation scientists in managing, improving, and protecting rangelands and wildlife habitats.

O*NET definition of Forest and Conservation Technicians (SOC 19-4071) · Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed.

28,090

in government (SOC 19-4071)

92%

of this occupation works for government

$54,910

median pay in government

Federal · State

levels of government

Titles employers use

Forest TechnicianForestry AideForestry Technician (Forestry Tech)Resource TechnicianBiological Science AideTimber Appraiser

How people usually get in Editorial

seasonal → permanent (GS-0462). Requirements vary by employer; each employer page will list its exact rules.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobs Wiki (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Requirements

Sourced

Typical entry requirements (BLS, SOC 19-4071)

Education needed to enter: Associate's degree
Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: None

Education workers say the job requires

High School Diploma or the equivalent

35%

Post-Secondary Certificate

Some College Courses

10%

Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree

35%

Bachelor's Degree

14%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Share of surveyed workers in Forest and Conservation Technicians (SOC 19-4071) naming each level as required to be hired, 28 respondents, O*NET survey August 2018. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Academy and training

Sourced

Training to become competent (BLS)

SOC 19-4071: None

Preparation level (O*NET)

Job zone: Medium Preparation Needed

Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Promotion ladder

Editorial

Federal grade and step: federal grade × step (GS/FWS/agency bands: FAA ATC, TSA SV, VA nurse, LEO special rates). Typical structure for a federal general schedule; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.

GS/GL-5/7/9 entry (Pathways / recent grad; some law-enforcement jobs start higher, e.g. FBI special agents at GL-10)
Career-ladder promotions to full-performance level (GS-9/11/12/13)
GS-14/15 (competitive)
Senior Executive Service
within-grade steps 1–10 (steps 2–4 yearly, 5–7 every 2 yrs, 8–10 every 3 yrs)
special rates: law-enforcement special base rates (GS-3–10); LEAP 25% premium for criminal investigators only

Source: GovJobs Wiki (editorial).

Pay

Sourced

Federal

$57,100

State

$48,810

Local

$52,230

All government

$54,910

Private sector

$51,540

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Employer type	Workers	10th pct.	25th	Median	75th	90th
Federal	20,220	$43,660	$47,940	$57,100	$72,260	$85,550
State	5,360	$33,920	$39,100	$48,810	$58,990	$68,760
Local	2,520	$36,880	$43,620	$52,230	$66,550	$79,290
All government	28,090	$40,330	$47,940	$54,910	$68,600	$82,560
Private sector	2,320	$37,590	$44,410	$51,540	$70,110	$103,130

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

State government pay plans

Official pay ranges for the job classes that match Forestry Technician (USFS) in 19 state civil-service plans. They cover state employees only, not cities, counties or school districts.

State	Job classes in the state plan	Annual range
Alabama	Forestry Worker, Forest Ranger/Technician 2 classes · effective September 1, 2026 · Alabama State Personnel Department	$22,711 – $52,531
Arkansas	Forestry Technician 1 class · effective July 1, 2025 · Arkansas Department of Shared Administrative Services, Office of Personnel Management	$35,610 – $52,703
California	Forestry Aide, Forestry Technician, Forestry Assistant I–II 4 classes · effective September 14, 2026 · California Department of Human Resources (CalHR)	$44,928 – $93,084
Georgia	Forest Tech 1–3, Forest Tech 1 Non Exempt, Forest Tech 2 Non Exempt, Forest Tech 3 Non Exempt 6 classes · effective July 10, 2024 · Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), Human Resources Administration — Compensation	$33,042 – $61,832
Kentucky	Forest Ranger Technician I–III, Forest Ranger Technician III - CDL 4 classes · effective September 16, 2026 · Kentucky Personnel Cabinet	$36,426 – $47,012
Maine	Forest Technician 1 class · effective August 30, 2026 · Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Human Resources	$39,874 – $54,954
Massachusetts	Forestry Assistant 2 classes · effective July 12, 2026 · Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD)	$54,654 – $78,105
Michigan	Forest Technician-E, Forest Technician-A 2 classes · effective October 1, 2026 · Michigan Civil Service Commission	$44,138 – $79,123
Mississippi	Forestry Technician I–II 2 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Mississippi State Personnel Board	$28,542 – $54,676
New Jersey	Forestry Technician 1 class · effective July 11, 2026 · New Jersey Civil Service Commission	$52,308 – $75,954
New York	Forestry Technician 1–3 3 classes · effective April 1, 2026 · New York State Department of Civil Service	$42,209 – $75,686
North Carolina	Forestry Technician I–III 3 classes · effective February 1, 2026 · North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR)	$37,377 – $72,113
Ohio	Forestry Technician 1 class · effective July 1, 2026 · Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation	$49,192 – $59,821
Pennsylvania	Forest Technician 1 class · effective July 1, 2026 · Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Administration	$46,827 – $75,298
South Carolina	Forestry Technician I–III 3 classes · South Carolina Department of Administration, Division of State Human Resources	$34,476 – $68,136
Tennessee	Forestry Aide 1–2, Forestry Technician 3 classes · effective September 1, 2026 · Tennessee Department of Human Resources	$28,188 – $65,208
Washington	Forest Technician 1 class · effective July 1, 2026 · Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources	$43,836 – $58,392
Wisconsin	Forestry Technician, Forestry Technician-Adv 2 classes · effective June 28, 2026 · Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Personnel Management	$47,112 – $77,979
Wyoming	Forestry Technician 1 class · effective July 1, 2026 · Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Human Resources Division	$55,016 – $82,534

Lowest class minimum to highest class maximum. Hourly rates are converted at 2,080 hours a year, and other rates at the plan's pay periods; the plans publish the exact rates. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Sources: 19 official state pay plans, linked in each row.

Schedule

Sourced

Work schedule

Regular

53%

Irregular

32%

Seasonal

15%

Typical work week

Less than 40 hours

40 hours

53%

More than 40 hours

47%

Share of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2018). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Day-to-day work

Sourced

Thin and space trees and control weeds and undergrowth, using manual tools and chemicals, or supervise workers performing these tasks.3.9
Train and lead forest and conservation workers in seasonal activities, such as planting tree seedlings, putting out forest fires, and maintaining recreational facilities.3.7
Patrol park or forest areas to protect resources and prevent damage.3.5
Provide information about, and enforce, regulations, such as those concerning environmental protection, resource utilization, fire safety, and accident prevention.3.5
Map forest tract data using digital mapping systems.3.3

The 5 most important of 5 core tasks for Forest and Conservation Technicians, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2018.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

13Derived

By state

Sourced

Median annual wage for Forest and Conservation Technicians (SOC 19-4071) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.

State	Workers	10th pct.	Median	90th pct.
North Dakota	160	$44,950	$68,600	$71,120
Alaska	500	$50,290	$68,160	$97,820
Maryland	130	$46,780	$64,980	$78,540
Wisconsin	620	$41,600	$62,700	$81,280
Louisiana	210	$43,660	$59,370	$89,510
Minnesota	580	$44,870	$58,990	$81,320
California	6,640	$43,680	$58,120	$91,480
New York	190	$39,040	$58,030	$78,370
Colorado	1,040	$44,950	$57,550	$84,150
Pennsylvania	420	$44,950	$57,370	$76,940
Alabama	180	$41,260	$56,720	$76,160
Arizona	1,310	$43,660	$56,660	$81,720
Massachusetts	Not published	$51,730	$56,480	$72,130
Oregon	2,530	$43,660	$55,910	$82,990
South Carolina	180	$40,800	$55,910	$84,120
South Dakota	350	$43,530	$54,770	$82,990
West Virginia	100	$40,330	$54,600	$83,780
Nevada	750	$35,930	$54,230	$89,340
Vermont	50	$41,660	$54,160	$84,120
Washington	1,160	$44,950	$54,160	$82,530
Oklahoma	130	$38,880	$53,930	$76,400
Arkansas	310	$40,330	$53,290	$80,750
Idaho	2,020	$43,660	$53,290	$84,120
Wyoming	560	$43,660	$53,290	$84,800
New Mexico	880	$43,660	$53,000	$82,560
Illinois	820	$36,950	$52,790	$74,390
Florida	380	$33,760	$52,420	$80,750
Mississippi	250	$39,790	$52,420	$78,500
Montana	1,760	$41,660	$52,420	$80,540
Texas	600	$41,780	$52,200	$66,710
Iowa	380	$35,960	$52,000	$67,970
Nebraska	100	$45,260	$51,630	$78,460
New Hampshire	60	$41,660	$51,630	$86,360
Georgia	230	$36,440	$50,710	$77,540
Hawaii	140	$40,800	$50,040	$73,020
Virginia	380	$38,660	$49,960	$75,130
Ohio	230	$37,080	$48,840	$64,860
Indiana	150	$34,190	$48,660	$74,010
North Carolina	650	$39,100	$48,360	$71,410
Tennessee	390	$41,660	$47,940	$68,140
Utah	1,140	$32,530	$47,940	$79,310
Michigan	560	$35,360	$45,760	$73,630
Kentucky	240	$31,770	$43,660	$70,580
Kansas	170	$31,260	$41,660	$70,080
Missouri	600	$31,200	$33,920	$66,080

45 states with published estimates.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Not yet collected

These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.

03 Hiring process
The steps in order and how long they take: application, written and physical tests, oral board, background check, polygraph, psychological and medical exams, eligibility list
Not yet collected
05 Probation
Probation length and what ends it
Not yet collected
09 Benefits and pension
Pension plan and formula, retirement age and years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b) and PSLF eligibility
Not yet collected
10 Union contracts
Bargaining unit, union and the current contract, with its source and effective dates
Not yet collected
11 Transfers and lateral entry
Lateral entry policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonuses and moves between agencies
Not yet collected
14 Exam practice
Named entrance and licensing exams, with free practice tests where they exist
Not yet collected
15 Employer directory
Every public employer that hires this job, with its own pay and rules
Not yet collected

At a glance

Job familyPlanning, Engineering & Environment

LevelFederal, State

Pay structureFederal grade and step

Occupation code19-4071 Forest and Conservation Technicians

PreparationMedium Preparation Needed

Sources and verification

Alabama State Personnel Department — Alabama Merit Semi-Monthly Compensation Plan (effective 09/01/2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Alabama state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Arkansas Department of Shared Administrative Services, Office of Personnel Management — Arkansas Executive Branch Pay Tables and Class Code List

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Arkansas state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) — California State Civil Service Pay Scales — Section 17 Schematic Listing (with Section 16 Schematic Arrangement of Classes)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (California state government publication, CalHR); facts republished with a link to the source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public domain (U.S. government work)

Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), Human Resources Administration — Compensation — Georgia State Salary Plans (SWD and LAW) with Job Profiles — September 2026

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Georgia state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Kentucky Personnel Cabinet — Kentucky Classified and Unclassified 37.5 and 40-Hour Salary Schedule (effective September 16, 2026) and Job Class Specifications

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Kentucky state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Human Resources — Maine State Government — Job Classification Specifications and Salary Schedules (BHR Salary Schedule Center)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public information (Maine state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD) — Massachusetts Executive Branch Bargaining Unit Job Codes and Salary Charts

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Commonwealth of Massachusetts government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Michigan Civil Service Commission — Michigan Civil Service Commission Compensation Plan, Sections A (Alphabetic List of Pay Ranges) and B (Numeric List of Pay Ranges)

Official source · data captured October 1, 2026 · Public record (State of Michigan government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Mississippi State Personnel Board — Mississippi Variable Compensation Plan FY 2027 and MSPB Career Catalog

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Mississippi state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

New Jersey Civil Service Commission — New Jersey State Title List and FY2027 salary schedules by Employee Relations Group

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (State of New Jersey government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

New York State Department of Civil Service — New York State Title and Salary Plan (Title and Salary Listing) and negotiating-unit salary schedules

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Title listing: OPEN-NY Terms of Use (data.ny.gov) — free use for any lawful purpose, no attribution or share-alike required; salary schedules and title file on cs.ny.gov: public record (New York State government publications); facts republished with a link to the source

North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) — North Carolina Class Specifications and Graded Salary Schedules (DT, HP, LG, MH, NC, SW)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (North Carolina state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA) — O*NET 31.0 Database

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · CC BY 4.0

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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. GovJobsWiki has modified some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public domain (U.S. government work)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public domain (U.S. government work)

Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation — Ohio State Classification Plan — Pay Range Booklet and Pay Range Schedules (rates effective July 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Ohio state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Administration — Pennsylvania Commonwealth Classification and Pay Plan (job classes and pay schedules)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

South Carolina Department of Administration, Division of State Human Resources — South Carolina Classified Pay Structure and State Job Classifications

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (South Carolina state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Human Resources Division — State of Wyoming Classification and Pay Structure — 2024 Market Rates (effective July 1, 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Wyoming state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Tennessee Department of Human Resources — Tennessee DOHR Alpha Comp Plan (September 1, 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Tennessee state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources — Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Washington state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Personnel Management — Wisconsin Alphabetical Listing of Classifications and 2025-2027 Compensation Plan Pay Schedules

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Wisconsin state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

GovJobs Wiki — editorial structure and wording

GovJobsWiki editorial · not a sourced fact · GovJobsWiki editorial

Page data last changed October 1, 2026. How we verify · Report an error

Forestry Technician (USFS)

Overview

Titles employers use

Requirements

Education workers say the job requires

Academy and training

Promotion ladder

Pay

State government pay plans

Schedule

Day-to-day work

Related jobs

By state

Not yet collected