Plant seedlings by hand
Prepare the soil, then set young trees into the ground with a hand planting tool to restock it.
Career profile
Forest and Conservation Worker
Forest and conservation workers plant seedlings, thin dense growth and help care for forests.
Picture a day that starts with a bundle of seedlings and ends with freshly planted forest. Your work stays visible on the land.
A day in the life
Thin a crowded stand
Use a powered thinning saw to cut out chosen trees so the ones left standing have room.
Record the tree count
While the crew marks or measures trees, write down each one counted so the final count is correct.
Ready forest nursery seedlings to ship
Check nursery seedlings for damage and size, then count the keepers and pack them in bales or boxes.
Quick facts
High school + job training
United States · 2025–2035
$43,680 a year
United States · May 2025
1.5% projected decline
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
High school + job trainingA diploma or equivalent is typical, followed by on-the-job training; related experience is not typically required.
Pay
$43,680 a yearNational median for forest and conservation workers, equivalent to $21.00 an hour.
Outlook
1.5% projected declineAbout 2,200 openings a year are projected nationally, despite shrinking total employment.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like physical work outdoors.
- You can stay attentive while checking many similar plants.
- You are comfortable coordinating tool work with a crew.
Things to weigh
- Weather and long walks carrying heavy equipment can wear you down.
- Seasonal and part-time jobs are common, even though most workers work full time.
Where AI may help
Sensors that observe forests from a distance can reduce the labor needed to count and identify trees.
What people still lead
Crews still plant, handle tools, and check conditions on the ground.
What we can’t predict yet
How much fieldwork machines take over will change the balance between counting trees and physically tending them.
Pay in context
Earnings
The national median is a reference point, not a starting offer.
The middle and the spread
In May 2025, median pay was $43,680 annually, or $21.00 hourly. The annual 10th and 90th percentiles were $33,780 and $57,220. These describe the wage spread, not beginner and experienced pay.
Workplace type matters
Annual medians were $43,680 in state government, excluding education and hospitals, and $39,590 in religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations.
Openings with fewer jobs overall
Employment is projected to fall 1.5% from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,200 openings annually on average. Projected openings are not a count of jobs available today.
Getting started
Join an entry crew
- What the route involves
- Apply with a high school diploma or equivalent; a driver's license is typically needed.
- What it can lead to
- Learn equipment use on the job while helping experienced workers.
Start with a youth conservation crew
Usually 8–10 weeks during summer.Paid
- What the route involves
- Through the Youth Conservation Corps, work on trails, fences, campgrounds, or habitat projects at participating federal sites.
- What it can lead to
- Build practical work skills and experience on a conservation crew before seeking another field job.
- What to check
- For eligible United States residents ages 15–18. Most programs require daily transportation and provide no housing; check the site's eligibility and application dates.
You carry out fieldwork under foresters or conservation scientists.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Learn safe tool operation and maintenance.
Build a specialty
In nursery work, get better at spotting damaged seedlings and sorting plants consistently for shipment.
Move toward technical work
An associate's degree in forestry or a related field can support a move into forest and conservation technician work.
Where you can work
Public recreation areas
Trail clearing may share your day with campground upkeep and restroom cleaning.
- Outdoors
- Field work
- Physical demands
Forest nurseries
Work follows the seedling crop: prepare beds, pull plants, then sort and pack them for shipment. Expect repeated bending and careful handling of small plants.
- Outdoors
- Physical demands
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Draw a batch of seedlings on paper, varying their size and adding damage to some. Write a simple acceptance rule, sort the drawings, and tally the usable plants. Notice whether repeated checking holds your attention; that is one small part of nursery conservation work.
Stay safe: Use drawings only; this does not require collecting plants or using cutting tools.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Forest and Conservation Workers. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- O*NET OnLine / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. National Wages: Forest and Conservation Workers. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Projections and Worker Characteristics. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Forest and Conservation Workers: Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- National Park Service. Youth Conservation Corps Program. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- U.S. Forest Service. Career Sheet 17: Nursery Operator. Accessed 2026-10-04.