Becoming a Forest and Wildlife Conservation Technician in Tennessee

A career working in and conserving forests sounds like a dream to some. It could be a reality for you. Tennessee is home to a number of forests, from deep woods to urban forests and tree farms. All of these need management and oversight to control and maintain natural resources, conserve wildlife and plants, and to keep woodlands healthy and thriving for recreation.

You can become a forest and conservation worker in the state, spending your days collecting data in the forest, analyzing that information, and helping foresters and conservation scientists make important decisions. As a technician you will then help implement those decisions, often supervising forest and conservation workers.

How to Become a Forest Technician in Tennessee

There are no requirements in the state for working as a forest technician, and there is no specific education you must have or licensing or certification through the state. Most employers, however, will only hire technicians with at least an associate’s degree in either forest technology or a related field, like natural resources.

Forest Technology Academic Programs in Tennessee

It’s strongly recommended that you earn an associate’s degree in forest technology to begin working as a forest and conservation technician. You may also choose to earn a four-year degree if you want to advance your career and ultimately become a forester. Two options in the state of Tennessee include:

• Hiwassee College, Madisonville. There is one two-year program in Tennessee for forest technology. Hiwassee offers an Associate of Applied Science degree that will prepare you to enter the workforce as soon as you graduate. It will give you the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to do forest technician work.
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville. If you are interested in earning a bachelor’s degree, you can major in forestry at the University of Tennessee. Choose from areas of concentration including forest resources management, restoration and conservation science, wildland recreation, and urban forestry.

Job Outlook and Salaries

The outlook for jobs in forest technology is not as positive as in many other careers, but there will be jobs available for qualified workers. Tennessee will always need trained and educated forest technicians to help manage wooded areas. While growth is slow or negligent, you can still expect positions to become available as people leave their jobs to relocate or retire.

For salary expectations, consider the averages in the field. The median annual salary for forest technicians in Tennessee is $38,120, while the median hourly rate is $18.33. The top earners make more than $50,000 per year. You can earn more with experience, by leading other workers and by having additional skills such as firefighting or prevention.

Forest and Conservation Technology Work in Tennessee

The work of a forest technician is a mix of field and computer work. You should expect to have days in the forest, walking, using heavy equipment, and experiencing all kinds of weather. Other days you may be in a lab or office, analyzing data and conferring with foresters and scientists.

The main employers of forest technicians are government agencies. Look for jobs in national forests, in state parks and recreation areas, and with municipal governments and urban woodlands. Private employers include logging companies, orchards and tree farms and nurseries.