What is a forest technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
ScoreForest TechnicianUS Average
Salary
2.9

Avg. Salary $36,614

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
5.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.96%

Asian 6.23%

Black or African American 10.03%

Hispanic or Latino 15.35%

Unknown 5.65%

White 61.78%

Gender

female 23.40%

male 76.60%

Age - 35
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35
Stress Level
6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.0

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.1

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Forest Technician career paths

Key steps to become a forest technician

  1. Explore forest technician education requirements

    Most common forest technician degrees

    Bachelor's

    55.1 %

    Associate

    34.7 %

    High School Diploma

    4.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific forest technician skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    GPS26.65%
    Data Collection14.66%
    Harvest11.41%
    Forests10.83%
    GIS9.79%
  3. Complete relevant forest technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New forest technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a forest technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real forest technician resumes.
  4. Research forest technician duties and responsibilities

    • Survey back-country old-growth timber, fight forest fires, manage brush, and replant forests after harvest.
    • Mark timber sale unit boundaries, sensitive areas for protection using GPS, aerial and GIS maps.
    • Fall trees, cut and clear brush, and dig trenches to create firelines, using axes, chainsaws or shovels.
    • Used drip torches for back lighting when need.
  5. Prepare your forest technician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your forest technician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a forest technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Forest Technician Resume templates

    Build a professional Forest Technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Forest Technician resume.
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    Forest Technician Resume
    Forest Technician Resume
    Forest Technician Resume
  6. Apply for forest technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a forest technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Forest Technician Job

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Average forest technician salary

The average Forest Technician salary in the United States is $36,614 per year or $18 per hour. Forest technician salaries range between $27,000 and $48,000 per year.

Average Forest Technician Salary
$36,614 Yearly
$17.60 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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