Becoming a Forest and Wildlife Conservation Technician in Utah

Do you envision spending your workdays among trees and wildlife? If so, you might consider beginning a career as a forest and conservation technician. These professionals work with a team of other forestry specialists to preserve, restore and maintain forest land.

Forest and conservation technicians work under the supervision and direction of foresters and conservation scientists. Technicians specialize in the technical side of forest work, including the operating of machinery, mapping using GIS technology and the collection of samples and data for analysis. They may also supervise and train forest and conservation workers in conservation tasks.

The largest employers of forest and conservation technicians are national, state and local government forestry agencies and other private forestry organizations. Some forest technicians utilize their skills on fruit orchards, while others perform urban forestry. This career path offers diverse opportunities and prospects for advancement.

How to Get Started

To become a forest and conservation technician, you need to first graduate high school or earn your GED. An associate’s degree in forestry, conservation or another related field is generally required to begin as a forest technician, so get started in a program as soon as possible. Some forest and conservation technicians elect to earn their bachelor’s degrees in order to stand out in the field and increase their chances for career advancement.

Studying Forestry and Conservation in Utah

College training is essential for forest and conservation technicians, because it teaches valuable technical skills. When you’re ready to begin study in a forestry program, check out these options available in Utah:

• Snow College. Students at this Ephraim school can earn either an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) or Associate of Science (AS) degree in Natural Resources. This is a field-based program that teaches students the conservation skills they’ll need for immediate work. Students learn technology in Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). They can earn a GIS Certificate as they complete the degree program.
• Utah State University. Based in Logan, this is the only university in the state with a natural resources department and a four-year forestry program. The forestry bachelor’s degree is in Forest Ecology and Management, and it’s the only Utah program accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF). Freshman applicants must demonstrate an academic record in good standing to be admitted, and transfer students need a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5.

Snapshot of Utah Forest and Conservation Technicians

So, how do Utah forest and conservation technicians really fare? In 2016, the Projections Managing Partnership (PMP) reported 1,110 forest and conservation technicians employed in the state of Utah. Job openings for forest technicians are on the rise, too, with the PMP estimating a 6.3 growth rate in their employment by 2026. On average, there are about 140 forest and conservation technician job openings in Utah per year. But how well are they paid? The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that Utah forest technicians in 2018 earned a median income of $14.35 per hour.

Where to Work in Utah

If you’re wondering where the best places in Utah are to find work as a forest and conservation technician, check out the central and eastern Utah nonmetropolitan areas. According to the BLS, these areas had the highest density of forest technicians per 1,000 jobs in 2018.

However, if the best income is what you’re after, Salt Lake City might be a better option. In 2018, forest technicians in this city earned a median income of $16.05 per hour—higher than anywhere else in the state. Most other areas in Utah paid around $14 per hour to forest technicians that year. No matter where you choose to work, Utah looks to be a promising setting for forest and conservation technicians.