Becoming a Forest and Wildlife Conservation Technician in Kansas

Forest and conservation technicians are responsible for assisting foresters in the management of forest land. They do such things as measuring trees, collecting forest data, recording and analyzing that data, identifying trees for removal and planting new trees, and supervising forest workers. This job requires a lot of outdoor physical work.

The career field for forest and conservation technicians is presently experiencing slow growth nationally. However, new spots will still be available when workers retire or move to other places. Kansas is an ideal place to work as a forest technician. Ten percent of the state’s land is covered with forest. This may seem like a small percentage, but that accounts for 5.2 million acres of land.

Requirements to Become a Forest and Conservation Technician

There are no certification or training requirements to become a forestry technician in Kansas. Most employers will require a minimum educational qualification of having completed high school or having a GED. Some employers, especially to hire you as a forest technician, will prefer to hire someone who has at least an associate’s degree in forestry or a science-related field. You will most likely receive training on the job, but completing such a program will mean that you won’t require as much training and may be more likely to be hired. A valid driver’s license or identification may also be mandatory in some instances.

Forest Technology Programs in Kansas

Completing an educational program can give you an edge on the competition when you are looking to get hired. You could earn a higher salary if you hold an associate’s or more advanced degree. Furthermore, if you are interested in becoming a forester, you will need a bachelor’s degree in forestry so you will already have part of your education out of the way. Here are a couple of the forestry programs you can choose from in Kansas:

• Barton Community College. Barton Community College, located in Great Bend, offers an Associate in Science (AS) degree in Forestry. This is a two-year program that is made up of 64 credit hours, including core courses and general education classes. This program prepares students to transfer to a university to complete a bachelor’s in science (BS) degree if they choose to.
• Kansas State University. At Kansas State University, students can earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture, with a focus on Forestry, or in Park Management and Conservation. Students can also choose to minor in Horticulture. These are four-year programs consisting of at least 120 credits. Either of these majors is ideal for someone interested in the forestry field and wanting to preserve our natural resources.

Salary and Job Outlook for Forest Technicians

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage for Kansas forest and conservation technicians is $46,180, and the mean hourly wage is $22.20. The top earners in the state can make as much as $54,000 annually. To make more, though, you will likely need more education and more experience.

There is a current decline in most forestry-related jobs across the United States, but jobs for forest and conservation technicians specifically are expected to increase by four percent nationally between 2016 and 2026. In Kansas, the number of forest technician jobs is not likely to see any change between 2016 and 2026. However, the Projection Managing Partnership(PMP) states there are approximately 10 openings in this job field in the state each year.

Working in Kansas as a Forestry Technician

Most forest technicians work outdoors, but some may work in lab settings and offices, especially when analyzing forest data. If you work outside, you should expect to do a lot of walking, sometimes climbing, and be prepared to carry heavy equipment while doing so.

Most forest technicians are employed by the state or federal government, local agencies or private companies. They may work on campgrounds and in national and state forests. They may also work on private land and in tree farms, orchards and nurseries. Most forest technicians in the state can be found working in Kansas City. Other places to consider working are Topeka and Wichita. If you are able to handle the physical aspects of the job, want to work outdoors and are passionate about the environment, working in Kansas as a forestry technician may be just the job for you.