Forest and Conservation Technician Salary
Forest and Conservation Technicians earn a median $54,560 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
U.S. median
$54,560
$26.23 per hour
Range
$40,330 – $83,630
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
30,410
across the U.S.
Forest and Conservation Technician take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$46,019
per year · effective tax rate 15.7%
$3,835Monthly
$1,917Twice a month
$1,770Every 2 weeks
$22.12Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,367
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,383
- Medicare (1.45%)$791
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$46,019
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,330 | $19.39 | $34,585 |
| 25th percentile | $47,360 | $22.77 | $40,234 |
| Median (50th) | $54,560 | $26.23 | $46,019 |
| 75th percentile | $68,600 | $32.98 | $57,090 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,630 | $40.21 | $67,664 |
Best cities for forest and conservation technicians (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boise City, ID | $57,660 | $46,562 | $47,324 | 440 |
| 2 | Riverside, CA | $63,150 | $50,260 | $47,218 | 590 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $61,110 | $48,771 | $42,945 | 590 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Riverside, CA — $63,150
- Los Angeles, CA — $61,110
- Boise City, ID — $57,660
Forest and Conservation Technician salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $68,600 | $57,012 | $44,950 – $71,120 | 160 |
| Alaska | $68,160 | $56,781 | $50,290 – $97,820 | 500 |
| Maryland | $64,980 | $51,669 | $46,780 – $78,540 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $62,700 | $50,582 | $41,600 – $81,280 | 620 |
| Louisiana | $59,370 | $48,489 | $43,660 – $89,510 | 210 |
| Minnesota | $58,990 | $47,091 | $44,870 – $81,320 | 580 |
| California | $58,120 | $46,587 | $43,680 – $91,480 | 6,640 |
| New York | $58,030 | $46,270 | $39,040 – $78,370 | 190 |
| Colorado | $57,550 | $46,598 | $44,950 – $84,150 | 1,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,370 | $46,516 | $44,950 – $76,940 | 420 |
| Alabama | $56,720 | $45,184 | $41,260 – $76,160 | 180 |
| Arizona | $56,660 | $46,499 | $43,660 – $81,720 | 1,310 |
| Massachusetts | $56,480 | $44,958 | $51,730 – $72,130 | — |
| Oregon | $55,910 | $43,041 | $43,660 – $82,990 | 2,530 |
| South Carolina | $55,910 | $44,906 | $40,800 – $84,120 | 180 |
| South Dakota | $54,770 | $46,188 | $43,530 – $82,990 | 350 |
| West Virginia | $54,600 | $44,326 | $40,330 – $83,780 | 100 |
| Nevada | $54,230 | $45,754 | $35,930 – $89,340 | 750 |
| Vermont | $54,160 | $44,317 | $41,660 – $84,120 | 50 |
| Washington | $54,160 | $45,698 | $44,950 – $82,530 | 1,160 |
| Oklahoma | $53,930 | $43,631 | $38,880 – $76,400 | 130 |
| Arkansas | $53,290 | $43,133 | $40,330 – $80,750 | 310 |
| Idaho | $53,290 | $43,282 | $43,660 – $84,120 | 2,020 |
| Wyoming | $53,290 | $44,999 | $43,660 – $84,800 | 560 |
| New Mexico | $53,000 | $43,440 | $43,660 – $82,560 | 880 |
| Illinois | $52,790 | $42,128 | $36,950 – $74,390 | 820 |
| Florida | $52,420 | $44,299 | $33,760 – $80,750 | 380 |
| Mississippi | $52,420 | $42,935 | $39,790 – $78,500 | 250 |
| Montana | $52,420 | $42,592 | $41,660 – $80,540 | 1,760 |
| Texas | $52,200 | $44,123 | $41,780 – $66,710 | 600 |
| Iowa | $52,000 | $42,638 | $35,960 – $67,970 | 380 |
| Nebraska | $51,630 | $42,195 | $45,260 – $78,460 | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $51,630 | $43,665 | $41,660 – $86,360 | 60 |
| Georgia | $50,710 | $40,916 | $36,440 – $77,540 | 230 |
| Hawaii | $50,040 | $40,100 | $40,800 – $73,020 | 140 |
| Virginia | $49,960 | $40,264 | $38,660 – $75,130 | 380 |
| Ohio | $48,840 | $40,862 | $37,080 – $64,860 | 230 |
| Indiana | $48,660 | $39,872 | $34,190 – $74,010 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $48,360 | $39,616 | $39,100 – $71,410 | 650 |
| Tennessee | $47,940 | $40,700 | $41,660 – $68,140 | 390 |
| Utah | $47,940 | $39,508 | $32,530 – $79,310 | 1,140 |
| Michigan | $45,760 | $37,254 | $35,360 – $73,630 | 560 |
| Kentucky | $43,660 | $35,850 | $31,770 – $70,580 | 240 |
| Kansas | $41,660 | $34,129 | $31,260 – $70,080 | 170 |
| Missouri | $33,920 | $28,778 | $31,200 – $66,080 | 600 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a forest and conservation technician make?
The national median salary for forest and conservation technicians is $54,560 a year ($26.23 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,330 and the top 10% earn over $83,630. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays forest and conservation technicians the most?
North Dakota has the highest median pay at $68,600. After taxes and local prices, Boise City, ID offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many forest and conservation technicians are there in the U.S.?
About 30,410 people work as forest and conservation technicians nationwide.