Forest and Conservation Technicians
Life, Physical, and Social Science · SOC 19-4071
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
Decision card
Career Evidence Passport
SOC 19-4071 evidence across exposure, wages, projections, postings, certified LCAs, skills, and transitions.
- SOC exposure
- 2.2%
- Medium · Anthropic AEI
- Automation friction
- 34/100
- Low friction; broad SOC seed ORS job-requirements coverage.
- Wages
- $54,560
- No H-1B offered-wage row for this SOC.
- Projected openings
- —
- BLS EP 2024–2034; employment change -3.2%.
- Observed/proxy demand
- 0
- FY2025 certified LCAs; 614 postings in 2025.
Skill evidence
- H-1B values are certified Labor Condition Applications, not visa approvals.
- Job postings are seed-static / seed-derived; treat as provider-ready proxy coverage until observed provider data is wired in.
- Transition matches are directional skill-overlap context, not placement guarantees.
- This release is a FutureGrid broad-SOC seed derived from public BLS ORS requirement concepts and categories, not direct occupation-level ORS survey estimates. It describes job requirements, not worker ability, AI capability, or displacement probability. Automation friction is a FutureGrid derived score and should be read alongside exposure, demand, wage, and projection signals.
Best transitions from here
Explore all pathways→Lower AI-exposure roles that reuse your skills, ranked by a transition score (skills that transfer, safety gain, pay and retraining effort).
AI Exposure Analysis
Across AI measures
Multiple exposure lenses for this occupation.
AI could do ~32.7% of this role but only ~2.2% is currently done with AI — a large capability-vs-adoption gap.
Top Skills
H-1B Visa Sponsorship Demand
View full H-1B trends →Certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications naming this occupation, FY2016–FY2025. A descriptive high-skill labor-demand signal — employer filings, not visa approvals or individual outcomes. Note: one LCA can cover multiple worker positions.
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
Provide technical assistance regarding the conservation of soil, water, forests, or related natural resources. May compile data pertaining to size, content, condition, and other characteristics of forest tracts under the direction of foresters, or train and lead forest workers in forest propagation and fire prevention and suppression. May assist conservation scientists in managing, improving, and protecting rangelands and wildlife habitats.
Common titles: Biological Science Aide, Forest Technician, Forestry Aide, Forestry Technician (Forestry Tech), Resource Technician, Timber Appraiser
Representative Tasks
- •Thin and space trees and control weeds and undergrowth, using manual tools and chemicals, or supervise workers performing these tasks.
- •Train and lead forest and conservation workers in seasonal activities, such as planting tree seedlings, putting out forest fires, and maintaining recreational facilities.
- •Provide information about, and enforce, regulations, such as those concerning environmental protection, resource utilization, fire safety, and accident prevention.
- •Patrol park or forest areas to protect resources and prevent damage.
- •Map forest tract data using digital mapping systems.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Record research or operational data.
- •Cultivate land.
- •Manage agricultural or forestry operations.
- •Supervise scientific or technical personnel.
- •Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures.
Tools & Technologies
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
Employment & Wage Trend
BLS OEWS, 2019–2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). See /sources.
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 2.2% | 9.7% |
| Outlook | Average | 37% Bright |
| Median Salary | $54,560 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 98/100 | N/A |