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Forest and Conservation Technicians vs. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists: Who Earns More?

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists out-earn Forest and Conservation Technicians by $36K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Forest and Conservation Technicians land at $54,560 and Occupational Health and Safety Specialists at $90,150. The education gap is real: forest and conservation technician programs typically require bachelor's degree, while occupational health and safety specialist programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Forest and Conservation Technicians is North Dakota ($68,600); for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists it's District of Columbia ($111,530).

Forest and Conservation Technicians
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Median salary
$54,560
$90,150
Hourly rate
$26.23/hr
$43.34/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$40,330
$55,000
Senior level (90th %)
$83,630
$134,950
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
30,410
140,610
Job growth (10-year)
-3.2%
12.5%
Category
Science
Science
Top-paying state
North Dakota
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Forest and Conservation Technicians median pay.

State
Forest and Conservation Technicians
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
North Dakota
$68,600
$93,250
Alaska
$68,160
$99,270
Maryland
$64,980
$91,820
Minnesota
$58,990
$96,990
California
$58,120
$102,840
New York
$58,030
$95,720
Colorado
$57,550
$101,400
Massachusetts
$56,480
$103,970
Oregon
$55,910
$95,240
Nevada
$54,230
$94,360
Washington
$54,160
$102,920
Wyoming
$53,290
$94,030
Illinois
$52,790
$98,270
New Hampshire
$51,630
$101,260
Hawaii
$50,040
$94,840

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Forest and Conservation Technicians or Occupational Health and Safety Specialists?

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists earn more nationally. The median is $54,560 for Forest and Conservation Technicians versus $90,150 for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists, a difference of $36K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Forest and Conservation Technicians or Occupational Health and Safety Specialists?

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists has the better 10-year outlook at 12.5% projected growth, compared to -3.2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Forest and Conservation Technicians or Occupational Health and Safety Specialists?

Forest and Conservation Technicians typically requires bachelor's degree. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Forest and Conservation Technicians get paid the most?

North Dakota is the top-paying state for Forest and Conservation Technicians at $68,600/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Forest and Conservation Technicians vs. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In North Dakota, Forest and Conservation Technicians earn $68,600 vs. $93,250 for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Forest and Conservation Technicians salary breakdownView →Full Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Forest and Conservation Technicians by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists by take-home payExplore →How to become a forest and conservation techniciansGuide →How to become a occupational health and safety specialistsGuide →