How to Become a Forest and Wildlife Conservation Worker in North Carolina

For anyone who loves the outdoors, a career as a forest and conservation worker or forest conservation technician is a dream come true. Working under the direction of a forester, forest and conservation workers/technicians maintain, develop and protect forests.

The duties of forest and conservation workers include a wide variety of tasks relating to the care of forests and trees. In this field, you may clear away brush and debris, plant seedlings to reforest land and help to prevent or suppress forest fires. You may spray trees with fungicides or insecticides to kill insects and protect trees from disease. You may identify and remove diseased trees.

Forest conservation technicians may provide technical assistance regarding conservation of forests, water, soil or other natural resources. As a technician, you may train or supervise forest and conservation workers. Forests are plentiful in the southeast, including North Carolina, which leads to the need for qualified candidates to become forest and conservation workers or technicians.

Requirements for Becoming a Forest or Conservation Worker in North Carolina

Forest and conservation workers are often trained through on the job. In order to qualify for these opportunities, you’ll need to have a high school diploma or GED. Most jobs in this field require that you have a valid drivers’ license.

While formal education is often not required, completing a two-year technical degree in forestry at a vocational school or community college can give you important background knowledge that can help you become a forest and conservation technician. Courses offered may include timber harvesting, wildlife management and forest management technology.

Forestry Training Programs in North Carolina

Whenever you’re interested in a competitive field, having formal training can give you an advantage over other applicants who may be pursuing the same jobs. Formal training programs in forestry are offered at the following North Carolina schools:

• Haywood Community College. Located in Clyde, NC, this school offers an associate’s degree in Forestry Management Technology. This program prepares you to manage and protect forest resources, and completing the program qualifies you for natural resources technician positions.
• Wayne Community College. This community college in Goldsboro, NC, offers a two-year associate’s degree in Forest Management Technology. Class and laboratory activities will focus on the practical skills needed for a career as a forestry technician. To prepare for an entry-level position in a shorter amount of time, this school also offers a Forestry Management Technology Natural Resources certificate.

Job Outlook and Salary Expectations

The job outlook for forest and conservation workers and technicians is likely to grow slowly or possibly decline. According to CareerOnestop,projected employment of forest and conservation technicians is expected to grow at a rate of 4 percent between 2016 and 2026.

Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the median annual salary of North Carolina forest and conservation workers in 2018 was $39,590. The hourly mean was $19.57 per hour.

Working as a Forest and Conservation Worker or Technician in North Carolina

Working as a forest and conservation worker can be physically demanding. You’ll work outdoors in all kinds of weather and may have to walk long distances carrying heavy equipment. The area with the greatest concentration of jobs in this field is western North Carolina, followed by the Asheville area. There are fewer opportunities in this field in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill area.

Because of the competitiveness of job opportunities in this field, it’s a good idea to obtain formal training in forestry. Having good physical stamina and decision-making skills will also be an advantage in pursuing a career in the forest and conservation field.