Forest and Conservation Technicians salary in California
Forest and Conservation Technicians in California earn a median of $58,120 a year ($27.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,640 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,480 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $54,560. California ranks 7th of 45 states for forest and conservation technicians pay. There are 0.36 forest and conservation technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $63,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for forest and conservation technicians in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| 25th percentile | $48,550 | $23.34 |
| Median | $58,120 | $27.94 |
| 75th percentile | $75,280 | $36.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,480 | $43.98 |
| Average (mean) | $63,680 | $30.62 |
Half of forest and conservation technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,843.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,421.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,235.38 |
| Weekly | $1,117.69 |
| Hourly | $27.94 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Forest and Conservation Technicians salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $74,410 | 90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $63,150 | 590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $62,400 | 110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $61,880 | 370 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $61,110 | 590 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $61,110 | 150 |
| Salinas, CA | $59,920 | 120 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $59,590 | 90 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $57,160 | 50 |
| Visalia, CA | $52,690 | 170 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $51,360 | 40 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $46,010 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for forest and conservation technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | $68,600 |
| Alaska | $68,160 |
| Maryland | $64,980 |
| Wisconsin | $62,700 |
| Louisiana | $59,370 |
| Minnesota | $58,990 |
| California | $58,120 |
| New York | $58,030 |
| Colorado | $57,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,370 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $78,350 | $37.67 |
| Biological Technician | $71,440 | $34.34 |
| Chemical Technician | $59,510 | $28.61 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $61,220 | $29.43 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $60,250 | $28.97 |
| Food Science Technician | $54,200 | $26.06 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $102,100 | $49.09 |
| Agricultural Technician | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $69,410 | $33.37 |
| Hydrologic Technician | $70,790 | $34.03 |
| Nuclear Technician | $99,270 | $47.72 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,000 | $55.77 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a forest and conservation technicians make in California?
The median salary for forest and conservation technicians in California is $58,120 a year, or $27.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid forest and conservation technicians make in California?
The top 10% of forest and conservation technicians in California earn at least $91,480 a year. The top 25% earn $75,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for forest and conservation technicians in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,680 a year, and a quarter of forest and conservation technicians earn $48,550 or less.
How many forest and conservation technicians work in California?
About 6,640 forest and conservation technicians are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.