Forest Worker

Explore This Path

Ideal for nature lovers who want to protect and nurture forest ecosystems.
Contribute to preserving natural habitats and combating environmental threats.
Engage in diverse tasks, from planting trees to gathering unique forest products.

💰 Earn $31K-$34K

📚 High School Diploma or GED

⏱️ 12–24 MONTH TRAINING

📈 -3.4% JOB GROWTH

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What You’ll Do

Under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, forested areas, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands through such activities as raising and transporting seedlings; combating insects, pests, and diseases harmful to plant life; and building structures to control water, erosion, and leaching of soil. Includes forester aides, seedling pullers, tree planters, and gatherers of nontimber forestry products such as pine straw.

Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
Gather, package, or deliver forest products to buyers.
Sow or harvest cover crops, such as alfalfa.
Spray or inject vegetation with insecticides to kill insects or to protect against disease or with herbicides to reduce competing vegetation.

Scoop

Minimum Education

High School Diploma or GED

Career Prospects

Shaky (Decreasing by 1-5%)

Training Time

1 to 2 years

Median Earnings

$31,200 in California

$33,940 Nationally

$25K

$50K

$75K

$100K

$125K

$150K

$175K

$200K

$225K

$250K

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Thinking and problem solving
Using data or completing tasks
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Coordination
Operation and Control
Operations Monitoring
Speaking

You value 🙏

Accomplishing things
Having freedom
Personal relationships

Deep Dive

Forest Worker

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years