Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary
Forest and Conservation Technicians in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN make a median of $48,610 a year, or about $23.37 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $53K for experienced workers.
So what does $49K get you in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood’s Regional Price Parity (95.7). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About forest and conservation technicians
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What this looks like in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood
Pay for forest and conservation technicians in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $55K. Rent runs $1,040/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 95.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for forest and conservation technicians in metros near Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $37K | , |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $35K | , |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $50K | , |
| Cleveland | $37K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN
Entry-level forest and conservation technicians (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $53K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Forest and Conservation Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Forest and Conservation Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $69K | +26% | 160 |
| Alaska | $68K | +25% | 500 |
| Maryland | $65K | +19% | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $63K | +15% | 620 |
| Louisiana | $59K | +9% | 210 |
| Minnesota | $59K | +8% | 580 |
| California | $58K | +7% | 6,640 |
| New York | $58K | +6% | 190 |
| Colorado | $58K | +5% | 1,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $57K | +5% | 420 |
| Alabama | $57K | +4% | 180 |
| Arizona | $57K | +4% | 1,310 |
| Massachusetts | $56K | +4% | N/A |
| Oregon | $56K | +2% | 2,530 |
| South Carolina | $56K | +2% | 180 |
| South Dakota | $55K | +0% | 350 |
| West Virginia | $55K | +0% | 100 |
| Nevada | $54K | -1% | 750 |
| Vermont | $54K | -1% | 50 |
| Washington | $54K | -1% | 1,160 |
| Oklahoma | $54K | -1% | 130 |
| Wyoming | $53K | -2% | 560 |
| Arkansas | $53K | -2% | 310 |
| Idaho | $53K | -2% | 2,020 |
| New Mexico | $53K | -3% | 880 |
| Illinois | $53K | -3% | 820 |
| Florida | $52K | -4% | 380 |
| Montana | $52K | -4% | 1,760 |
| Mississippi | $52K | -4% | 250 |
| Texas | $52K | -4% | 600 |
| Iowa | $52K | -5% | 380 |
| New Hampshire | $52K | -5% | 60 |
| Nebraska | $52K | -5% | 100 |
| Georgia | $51K | -7% | 230 |
| Hawaii | $50K | -8% | 140 |
| Virginia | $50K | -8% | 380 |
| Ohio | $49K | -10% | 230 |
| Indiana | $49K | -11% | 150 |
| North Carolina | $48K | -11% | 650 |
| Utah | $48K | -12% | 1,140 |
| Tennessee | $48K | -12% | 390 |
| Michigan | $46K | -16% | 560 |
| Kentucky | $44K | -20% | 240 |
| Kansas | $42K | -24% | 170 |
| Missouri | $34K | -38% | 600 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track forest and conservation technicians salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forest and conservation technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 31.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,040/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for forest and conservation technicians in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forest and conservation technicians typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,051/month. At HUD’s $1,040/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is forest and conservation technician a high-paying job in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $49K here vs. $55K nationally.
How does Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood compare to the national average for forest and conservation technicians?
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — below the national median.
How much do forest and conservation technicians make in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN?
The median is $48,610 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,190, and experienced forest and conservation technicians can clear $53,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,301/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,040/month, which eats 31.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a forest and conservation technicians salary go in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood?
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median forest and conservation technicians salary is worth about $50,794 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do forest and conservation technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.