Forest and conservation workers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$43,680
~$21/hr · ~$3,640/mo
US Jobs
11K
Decline
AI & Automation Risk
2/10
Safe
AI & Automation Risk
Safe 2/10
The core duties of this occupation are highly physical and performed in unpredictable outdoor environments, such as planting seedlings, clearing brush, and suppressing forest fires. While AI and remote sensing can assist with peripheral tasks like tree counting and health monitoring, the primary labor-intensive functions cannot be automated by digital AI systems.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-INBEST VALUE | $55,790 | Average (102.5) | $54,437 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $48,050 | Below avg (94.7) | $50,736 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $48,200 | Below avg (97.0) | $49,704 |
| Knoxville, TN | $40,320 | Below avg (92.2) | $43,715 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $37,690 | Below avg (90.1) | $41,835 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,680 | Above avg (107.3) | $40,693 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $42,810 | Above avg (106.7) | $40,117 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $43,680 | Above avg (109.1) | $40,040 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $44,720 | Above avg (112.7) | $39,670 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $43,460 | Above avg (110.4) | $39,368 |
| Salinas, CA | $43,680 | Above avg (113.2) | $38,593 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $43,680 | Above avg (113.7) | $38,422 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $39,040 | Average (102.4) | $38,139 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $43,680 | Above avg (114.7) | $38,066 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $37,930 | Average (100.5) | $37,748 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
10-Year Growth
-5% (Decline)
Hourly Rate
~$21/hr
Monthly Income
~$3,640/mo
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)