How to Become a Forest and Wildlife Conservation Worker in Vermont

Working in forests can be a rewarding and satisfying career. It will allow you to be outdoors most of the time, although the work can be physically demanding. And as a forest and conservation worker in Vermont you will be a part of maintaining and managing the state’s sustainable forests.

Forest and conservation workers have a number of duties for helping to manage woodlands for public or private use. They work under foresters and forest technicians to identify diseased trees or trees that need to be removed; to apply treatments to diseased trees; to remove debris from trails; and to count, measure and survey forests. They use a lot of heavy equipment and are on their feet doing very physical work in all kinds of weather.

How to Get into Forest and Conservation Work in Vermont

Forest and conservation workers do not need to be licensed or certified in Vermont. To start out in this career, you should have at least a high school diploma or a GED. Most employers will train you on the job and don’t require that you have any post-secondary degrees or any specialized forestry skills or training. As long as you are willing to work hard and learn as you go, you can get hired without a degree.

Academic Forestry Programs in Vermont

You don’t need to have a post-secondary degree to get into forest and conservation work, but it is another option. Starting out with a degree may help you be eligible for more jobs and can also be a good starting point for working up to a career as a forest technician or forester. Two educational options in Vermont include:

• Community College of Vermont, Multiple. There are several community college campuses throughout the state, so earning an associate’s degree in environmental science is possible no matter where you live. The two-year degree program prepares students for a variety of careers, including entry-level work in forestry and for forest technicians.
• Stafford Technical Center, Rutland. Through Stafford’s natural resources and forestry program you can earn credits that will transfer to degree programs at other schools in Vermont. The program teaches students practical forestry skills, such as wildlife management, conservation and urban tree management in a real-life setting.

If you’re thinking about earning a four-year degree in forestry, there are programs available at Green Mountain College in Poultney, the University of Vermont in Burlington, Castleton University in Castleton and Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center.

Outlook for Jobs and Salaries

There is currently expected to be a decline in forest and conservation work throughout the U.S, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But Vermont is a heavily forested state that requires a lot of conservation and management work, so finding a job should not be difficult here.

The average salary for forest and conservation workers in the U.S. is $27,460 per year and $13.20 per hour. You can earn a higher salary with more years of experience and specific skills, such as forest firefighting. You can also earn more as a forest technician. These workers earn an annual average of $41,250 in Vermont.

Working in Forestry and Conservation in Vermont

Look for jobs in forestry throughout the state. Many forest and conservation workers are hired by local and state governments to manage forests, parks and urban landscapes. You may also work for the U.S. government in federal forests. Private owners of forests, tree farms and orchards also need forest workers. As long as you are willing to do the physically demanding and sometimes dangerous work of forestry, you should be able to find your first job in Vermont.