Forest and Conservation Workers

Overview
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Education

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Examples

These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.

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.

Salary Salary

Salary at 10th Percentile: $23K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $27K
Median Salary: $30K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $37K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $48K

Demand
Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend
Core Tasks

Gather, package, or deliver forest products to buyers.

Sow or harvest cover crops, such as alfalfa.

Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.

Spray or inject vegetation with insecticides to kill insects or to protect against disease or with herbicides to reduce competing vegetation.

Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking or measuring efforts.

Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.

Identify diseased or undesirable trees and remove them, using power saws or hand saws.

Drag cut trees from cutting areas and load trees onto trucks.

Sort tree seedlings, discarding substandard seedlings, according to standard charts or verbal instructions.

Explain or enforce regulations regarding camping, vehicle use, fires, use of buildings, or sanitation.

Operate skidders, bulldozers, or other prime movers to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated.

Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.

Examine and grade trees according to standard charts and staple color-coded grade tags to limbs.

Erect signs or fences, using posthole diggers, shovels, or other hand tools.

Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.

Provide assistance to forest survey crews by clearing site-lines, holding measuring tools, or setting stakes.

Select or cut trees according to markings or sizes, types, or grades.

Maintain campsites or recreational areas, replenishing firewood or other supplies and cleaning kitchens or restrooms.

Thin or space trees, using power thinning saws.

Select tree seedlings, prepare the ground, or plant the trees in reforestation areas, using manual planting tools.

Prune or shear tree tops or limbs to control growth, increase density, or improve shape.

Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Data base user interface and query software
Microsoft Access
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Map creation software
Geographic information system GIS software
Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Operating system software
Microsoft Windows
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Project management software
Microsoft Project
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Word processing software
Microsoft Word
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Agricultural and forestry and landscape machinery and equipment
Harvesting machines
Communications Devices and Accessories
Two way radios
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Portable data collectors
Construction and maintenance support equipment
Portable ladders
Consumer electronics
Geodetic ground global positioning system GPS receivers
Hand tools
Claw hammers
Heavy construction machinery and equipment
Backhoes
Industrial pumps and compressors
Water pumps
Marine transport
Motorboats
Measuring and observing and testing instruments
Electronic measuring devices
Motor vehicles
Four wheel drive 4WD vehicles
Personal safety and protection
Protective ear muffs
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Geography
81%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

English Language
76%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Public Safety and Security
75%
Importance

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Clerical
74%
Importance

Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Biology
69%
Importance

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Law and Government
68%
Importance

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Computers and Electronics
66%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Economics and Accounting
66%
Importance

Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Mathematics
66%
Importance

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Administration and Management
64%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Top 10 Skills
Coordination
65%
Importance

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Speaking
65%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening
63%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking
63%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Judgment and Decision Making
63%
Importance

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring
63%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Active Learning
60%
Importance

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Complex Problem Solving
60%
Importance

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Time Management
60%
Importance

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Learning Strategies
58%
Importance

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Top 10 Abilities
Problem Sensitivity
73%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Oral Comprehension
70%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression
70%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Deductive Reasoning
68%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Information Ordering
68%
Importance

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Static Strength
68%
Importance

The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.

Arm-Hand Steadiness
65%
Importance

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Manual Dexterity
65%
Importance

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Near Vision
65%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Speech Recognition
65%
Importance

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Top 10 Work Activities
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
85%
Importance

Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Performing General Physical Activities
85%
Importance

Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
84%
Importance

Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
84%
Importance

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
83%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
83%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Getting Information
81%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
81%
Importance

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
81%
Importance

Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
81%
Importance

Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Detailed Work Activities

Inspect equipment or facilities to determine condition or maintenance needs.

Communicate with other workers to coordinate activities.

Transport animals, crops, or equipment.

Harvest agricultural products.

Plant crops, trees, or other plants.

Apply chemical solutions to plants to protect against disease or insects or to enhance growth.

Record agricultural or forestry inventory data.

Evaluate quality of plants or crops.

Cut trees or logs.

Sort forestry or agricultural materials.

Operate forestry equipment.

Advise others on farming or forestry operations, regulations, or equipment.

Perform forest firefighting activities.

Mark agricultural or forestry products for identification.

Build agricultural structures.

Perform manual agricultural, aquacultural, or horticultural tasks.

Determine forestry techniques or methods.

Clean equipment or facilities.

Trim trees or other vegetation.

Work Context
Electronic Mail

How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

Face-to-Face Discussions

How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Contact With Others

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Freedom to Make Decisions

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

Work With Work Group or Team

How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment

How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?

Deal With External Customers

How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?

Coordinate or Lead Others

How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?

Responsibility for Outcomes and Results

How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?

Education
Majors
Major
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
Forestry
Interests
Realistic
100%
Importance

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional
67%
Importance

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Investigative
53%
Importance

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Enterprising
43%
Importance

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Social
24%
Importance

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Artistic
19%
Importance

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Top 10 Work Styles
Attention to Detail
87%
Importance

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Independence
87%
Importance

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Cooperation
86%
Importance

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Dependability
85%
Importance

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Integrity
82%
Importance

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Achievement/Effort
81%
Importance

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Initiative
81%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Adaptability/Flexibility
78%
Importance

Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Persistence
78%
Importance

Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Analytical Thinking
74%
Importance

Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Work Values
Independence
62%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Relationships
62%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Achievement
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Support
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Working Conditions
41%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Recognition
39%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.