How to Become a Forest and Wildlife Conservation Worker in Washington

A career as a forest and conservation worker could be perfect for you if you are science-minded, hard-working and love spending time in nature. Under the supervision of a forester or forest and conservation technician, you will use your skills and knowledge to keep local forests healthy. This involves reforestation—planting trees, often in logged or burnt-out areas—and maintenance work, such as clearing brush or debris, removing diseased trees or other plants and applying protective chemicals. You will also survey forest growth by measuring and counting trees. Fire protection is another important component of forestry, and workers with a background in that field might help with wildfire control. This can include creating firebreaks, helping with controlled burns or responding to fire emergencies.

What You Need to Become a Forest and Conservation Worker

Apart from a high school diploma or equivalent, there’s no minimum level of education for forest and conservation workers. Most of the training you need will be done on the job. However, completing a relevant post-secondary program can increase your desirability to employers and is a step toward advancement in the field.

Educational Programs to Consider

Forest and conservation workers receive on-the-job training, but environmental education programs offer a greater understanding of how forests function and why conservation efforts are undertaken. Horticulture programs also provide valuable knowledge about growing and caring for plants.

• Skagit Valley College. SVC, in Mount Vernon, offers five Associate of Applied Science degrees and four certificates in Environmental Conservation. The associate’s degrees are designed to take two years to complete. The shorter certificates require anywhere from nine to 66 credits. Tuition for the programs varies widely, but students can expect to pay the current per-credit rate set by the state.
• Lake Washington Institute of Technology. At this college in Kirkland, horticulture students earn four certificates as part of their two-year Associate of Applied Science degree. The program runs year-round and has open enrollment, so students can start at the beginning of any term. Tuition is set at $110.26 per credit right now. This does not include school and course fees.

Career Outlook and Salary

Although this industry is in slight decline on a national scale, it’s growing in Washington. Jobs for forest and conservation workers are expected to increase by 3.5 percent by 2026, with roughly 170 openings each year. For forest and conservation technicians, the projected job growth in the same period is 5.8 percent. This means an estimated 230 technician job openings per year.

Entry-level wages for forest and conservation workers are on par with Washington’s minimum wage: in 2018, 50 percent of salaried workers earned at least $23,310.00 annually. Fifty percent of higher-skilled technicians, on the other hand, made at least $36,220.00 per year. This potential increase in pay can make extra training worthwhile.

Working in Washington’s Forest and Conservation Industry

With three national parks and over 100 state parks in Washington, especially in the western and southeastern regions, there are often government forest and conservation jobs available. Cities, universities and private forestry companies may also have positions in the field. Since roughly 22 million of the state’s 43 million acres are covered in forest, you will see opportunities in almost every area.

Regardless of the area or your employer, forest and conservation work is physically demanding. You will likely find yourself hiking through densely treed areas, perhaps carrying your equipment, and will be out in all sorts of weather. This can seem daunting, but there is no substitute for being able to spend your days in nature and knowing that your efforts will make a difference for decades to come.