Becoming a Forest and Wildlife Conservation Technician in Iowa

If you’re looking to enter a career that allows you to be outdoors, consider becoming a forest and conservation technician. These trained professionals assist foresters and conservation scientists in measuring, analyzing and protecting forest land and parks. They specialize in the technical programs, equipment and processes necessary to forestry.

Forest and conservation technicians work in a variety of places—tree nurseries, orchards, urban trees and many other natural settings. Some are trained to put out forest fires, while others specialize in the collection of data for conservation scientists. The main employers of forestry technicians are federal, state and local wildlife agencies. Forest organizations also employ forest technicians.

How to Become a Forest and Conservation Technician

Becoming a forest technician usually requires at least an associate’s degree in a specialty such as forestry, conservation or horticulture. You’ll learn the technical skills required for the field of forestry you wish to enter. Plus, you gain experience and internship work through college programs that enhance your ability to find a job. No license or certification is necessary for this job.

Conservation Programs in Iowa

There are a few community colleges throughout Iowa that offer two-year forestry and conservation programs. Four-year bachelor’s degree programs in forestry can also be found for those who want to aim higher in their forestry career. These are a couple of community colleges offering conservation and natural resource degrees in the state:

• Ellsworth Community College. Students at this Iowa Falls school can earn a two-year associate’s degree in Conservation Technology or Wildlife/Fisheries/Forestry. They can choose an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) route depending on their goals. Students spend time learning at Calkins Nature Area& Interpretive Center along the Iowa River and just three miles from campus.
• Hawkeye Community College. Based in Waterloo, Hawkeye offers a two-year associate’s degree in Natural Resource Management. Students conduct campus and community projects, including the maintenance of two on-campus ponds. Students can also gain 320 hours of internship experience, which will give them a boost when they’re looking for jobs. The program is accredited by the North American Wildlife Technology Association—they’re the only college in Iowa with this accreditation.

Forest Technician Employment Data

There seems to be a steady need for forest and conservation technicians in Iowa. In 2016, the Projections Managing Partnership (PMP)reported that 430 forest and conservation technicians were employed within the state. The PMP estimates 50 forest technician job openings in Iowa per year. By the year 2026, Iowa forest technician employment is estimated to increase by 2.3 percent.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that, in 2018, the median income for Iowa forest technicians was $18.50 per hour. That’s slightly higher than the nationwide median income of forest technicians that same year, at $17.37 per hour.

Stats around the State

If you’re ready to take on a career in forest and conservation technology, you might be wondering which places in Iowa are the best for finding work. According to limited data from the BLS, the highest number of forest technicians in 2018 were employed in the southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area. This area also showed a high employment rate for forest and conservation technicians per 1,000 jobs.

The highest-paid forest technicians were in northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area, earning a median of $24.10 per hour. Those in southwest were still also paid relatively higher than other areas, at a median rate of $21.41 per hour.

However, lots of forest land needs attention across the whole state. According to the USDA Forest Service, forest land covers 2.9 million acres of Iowa. Unfortunately, that forest land decreased by 7 percent from 2011 to 2016. Forest and conservation technicians are an essential part of the forestry teams working to restore natural forest land in Iowa.