by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Forest Technology/Technician covers Forest Technology/technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Assist Foresters In The Management And Production Of Forest Resources. Includes Instruction In Woods And Field Skills, Tree Identification, Timber Measurement, Logging And Timber Harvesting, Forest Propagation And Regeneration, Forest Fire-Fighting, Resource Management, Equipment Operation And Maintenance, Record-Keeping, Sales And Purchasing Operations, And Personnel Supervision. Continue reading for the essential details every forest technology/technician major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering forest technology/technician programs.
In the U.S., forest technology/technician draws strong interest, with 327 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Forest Technology/Technician Schools ranking analyzes these 32 schools to determine the best overall colleges for forest technology/technician students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of forest technology/technician programs later in this article.
Studies in Forest Technology/Technician build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations forest technology/technician graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a forest technology/technician program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a forest technology/technician major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several forest technology/technician degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 40 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 184 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 101 |
People currently working in careers related to forest technology/technician tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 42.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 21.1% |
| Master’s degree | 16.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.3% |
| Some college courses | 7.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in forest technology/technician careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in forest technology/technician prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to forest technology/technician.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to forest technology/technician.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Forest and Conservation Workers | 400,323 | 11.1% |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | 73,073 | 0.5% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of forest technology/technician graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,042 |
| 4 years | $52,066 |
| 5 years | $60,484 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for forest technology/technician graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers forest technology/technician grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $50,097 |
| Forest and Conservation Workers | $22,542 |
With 32 different forest technology/technician programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased forest technology/technician school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in forest technology/technician, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Forestry, General | 1,181 |
| Forest Sciences and Biology | 393 |
| Forest Management/Forest Resources Management | 252 |
| Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology/Technician | 95 |
| Urban Forestry | 89 |
| Forestry, Other | 75 |
| Forest Resources Production and Management | 48 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
