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, and tree planters.
AI Impact Summary
Forest and Conservation Workers faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 26/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 22% of all analyzed occupations. Of 22 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Forest and Conservation Workers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Cybersecurity Fundamentals Path
by Pluralsight
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
22 tasks analyzed
Gather, package, or deliver forest products to buyers.
Sow or harvest cover crops, such as alfalfa.
Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
Spray or inject vegetation with insecticides to kill insects or to protect against disease or with herbicides to reduce competing vegetation.
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.
Identify diseased or undesirable trees and remove them, using power saws or hand saws.
Drag cut trees from cutting areas and load trees onto trucks.
Sort tree seedlings, discarding substandard seedlings, according to standard charts or verbal instructions.
Operate skidders, bulldozers, or other prime movers to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated.
Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.
Explain or enforce regulations regarding camping, vehicle use, fires, use of buildings, or sanitation.
Examine and grade trees according to standard charts and staple color-coded grade tags to limbs.
Erect signs or fences, using posthole diggers, shovels, or other hand tools.
Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.
Provide assistance to forest survey crews by clearing site-lines, holding measuring tools, or setting stakes.
Select or cut trees according to markings or sizes, types, or grades.
Maintain campsites or recreational areas, replenishing firewood or other supplies and cleaning kitchens or restrooms.
Thin or space trees, using power thinning saws.
Select tree seedlings, prepare the ground, or plant the trees in reforestation areas, using manual planting tools.
Prune or shear tree tops or limbs to control growth, increase density, or improve shape.
Create field maps using geographic information systems technology.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gather, package, or deliver forest products to buyers. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Sow or harvest cover crops, such as alfalfa. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 3% | |
| Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 8% | |
| Spray or inject vegetation with insecticides to kill insects or to protect against disease or with herbicides to reduce competing vegetation. | 50Estimated | 53.0% | 5% | |
| Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking or measuring efforts. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 4% | |
| Confer with other workers to discuss issues such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 5% | |
| Identify diseased or undesirable trees and remove them, using power saws or hand saws. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 8% | |
| Drag cut trees from cutting areas and load trees onto trucks. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Sort tree seedlings, discarding substandard seedlings, according to standard charts or verbal instructions. | 60Estimated | 57.0% | 3% | |
| Operate skidders, bulldozers, or other prime movers to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated. | 20Estimated | 17.0% | 6% | |
| Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 6% | |
| Explain or enforce regulations regarding camping, vehicle use, fires, use of buildings, or sanitation. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 5% | |
| Examine and grade trees according to standard charts and staple color-coded grade tags to limbs. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 3% | |
| Erect signs or fences, using posthole diggers, shovels, or other hand tools. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 5% | |
| Provide assistance to forest survey crews by clearing site-lines, holding measuring tools, or setting stakes. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Select or cut trees according to markings or sizes, types, or grades. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 5% | |
| Maintain campsites or recreational areas, replenishing firewood or other supplies and cleaning kitchens or restrooms. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 5% | |
| Thin or space trees, using power thinning saws. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Select tree seedlings, prepare the ground, or plant the trees in reforestation areas, using manual planting tools. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 4% | |
| Prune or shear tree tops or limbs to control growth, increase density, or improve shape. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 3% | |
| Create field maps using geographic information systems technology. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 31.8%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$43,680
per year
Mean Wage
$42,830
per year
Employment
6K
workers
Wage Range
$33,050 - $54,190
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
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First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
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Forest and Conservation Technicians
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
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Surveying Technicians
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Higher risk than 40% of other occupations
Precision Agriculture Technicians
37%Median salary: $60,130
Higher risk than 71% of other occupations
Agricultural Technicians
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General and Operations Managers
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Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
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Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Forest and Conservation Workers professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change