Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary
Forest and Conservation Technicians in Washington make a median of $54,160 a year, or about $26.04 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $53,093 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 48.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $54K get you in Washington?
About forest and conservation technicians
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What this looks like in Washington
Forest and conservation technicians pay in Washington tracks closely to the national median, $54K locally vs. $55K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 48.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level forest and conservation technicians (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Forest and Conservation Technicians salary by metro in Washington
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $59K | +9% | 60 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $57K | +6% | 90 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $57K | +5% | 190 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $52K | -3% | 190 |
| Yakima | $50K | -8% | 60 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $49K | -9% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track forest and conservation technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forest and conservation technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 48.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forest and conservation technicians typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,697/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 68% 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 Washington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $54K locally vs. $55K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Washington compare to the national average for forest and conservation technicians?
Washington pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do forest and conservation technicians make in Washington?
The median is $54,160 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,950, and experienced forest and conservation technicians can clear $82,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,796/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 48.2% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median forest and conservation technicians salary is worth about $53,093 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.