Career Explorer Farming, fishing, forestry
Human edge, steady
Forest and conservation workers
Under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, forested areas, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands through such activities as raising and transporting seedlings; combating insects, pests, and diseases harmful to plant life; and building structures to control water, erosion, and leaching of soil. Includes forester aides, seedling pullers, tree planters, and gatherers of nontimber forestry products such as pine straw.
More resilient than most: more resilient than 67% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it low), and US jobs are projected to change by -1.5% by 2035, expected to shrink.
AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.
- Median pay (2025)
- $43,680
- Job growth to 2035
- -1.5%
- Openings a year
- 2,200
- People doing it (2025)
- 14,700
- Usual route in
- High school diploma, then moderate on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Communicate with others about operational plans or activities
- Advise others on business or operational matters
- Determine operational methods or procedures
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Protect people or property from threats such as fires or flooding
- Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment
- Cut trees or other vegetation
What the work looks like
- Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
- Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.
- Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.
- Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking or measuring efforts.
- Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects
- Fewer of these jobs, as the automation of some manual labor tasks in forest and conservation work reduces the number of necessary workers.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Agricultural workers, all otherHuman edge, growing, Index 83, +3.8%
- Hazardous materials removal workersHuman edge, steady, Index 72, +1.5%
- Helpers--carpentersHuman edge, steady, Index 71, -1.7%
- Drywall and ceiling tile installersHuman edge, steady, Index 75, +2.5%
Also known as: Forest Ranger, Forestry Support Specialist, Tree Farmer, Tree Planter, Christmas Tree Farmer, Conservation Officer, Field Laborer, Forest Resource Specialist.
Is this career on your child's list?
Build a free Career Playbook matched to your child, or get a 90-day Action Plan with dated next steps, written for your child by name.
Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.