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Salary comparison

Forest and Conservation Workers vs. Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse: Who Earns More?

Forest and Conservation Workers out-earn Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse by $8K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Forest and Conservation Workers land at $43,680 and Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse at $35,660. The education gap is real: forest and conservation worker programs typically require no formal educational credential, while farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Forest and Conservation Workers is Idaho ($59,460); for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse it's Wyoming ($55,180).

Forest and Conservation Workers
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Median salary
$43,680
$35,660
Hourly rate
$21/hr
$17.15/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$33,780
$32,900
Senior level (90th %)
$57,220
$45,690
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
6,050
265,500
Job growth (10-year)
-4.7%
-3.3%
Category
Farming & Fishing
Farming & Fishing
Top-paying state
Idaho
Wyoming

Pay by state

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

State
Forest and Conservation Workers
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Hawaii
$56,330
$36,990
Virginia
$54,560
$35,580
Massachusetts
$51,890
$38,220
Pennsylvania
$50,250
$37,010
Ohio
$48,470
$37,470
Washington
$44,430
$39,170
California
$43,680
$35,580
New Jersey
$41,600
$37,710
Minnesota
$39,590
$38,080
South Dakota
$38,210
$42,260
Colorado
$37,690
$38,170
Missouri
$37,170
$36,280
Connecticut
$34,010
$36,950
Iowa
$33,600
$37,590
Montana
$32,600
$41,390

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Forest and Conservation Workers or Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse?

Forest and Conservation Workers earn more nationally. The median is $43,680 for Forest and Conservation Workers versus $35,660 for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse, a difference of $8K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Forest and Conservation Workers or Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse?

Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse has the better 10-year outlook at -3.3% projected growth, compared to -4.7% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Forest and Conservation Workers or Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse?

Forest and Conservation Workers typically requires no formal educational credential. Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Forest and Conservation Workers get paid the most?

Idaho is the top-paying state for Forest and Conservation Workers at $59,460/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 Workers vs. Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Hawaii, Forest and Conservation Workers earn $56,330 vs. $36,990 for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Forest and Conservation Workers salary breakdownView →Full Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse salary breakdownView →Best cities for Forest and Conservation Workers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse by take-home payExplore →How to become a forest and conservation workersGuide →How to become a farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouseGuide →