Forest Technician
Forest technicians perform technical functions related to forest management, forest protection, silviculture, harvesting and conservation.
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Environmental Technician / Technologist, Forest Fire Lookout, Natural Resource Technician
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
Forest technicians, as they are defined in this profile, work under the supervision of foresters or forest technologists. They may be involved primarily in:
Duties vary from one position to another but, in general, forest technicians:
Forest technicians may use (or supervise workers who use) chain saws, clearing saws and manual tools, or herbicides to control weeds and undergrowth.
Forest technicians typically work outdoors in all weather conditions, often performing strenuous tasks on steep, wet or uneven terrain. But they also work in office environments. Lifting requirements vary depending on the nature of the job. In general, forest technicians routinely lift loads weighing up to 10 kilograms.
Forest technicians may commute daily to work in the woods or may have to be away from home for a week or more at a time. They often stay in small rural communities or in modern camps, but may also live in urban settings.
When fighting forest fires, they often work 12 to 16 hour shifts for several days at a time and may be required to lift equipment weighing up to 30 kilograms. Some positions are seasonal.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in supervising the construction of access routes, forest roads and forest tree nursery operations; and in implementing and supervising technical functions in silviculture and forest harvesting operations and in co-ordinating activities such as timber scaling, forest fire suppression, disease and insect control and pre-commercial thinning of forest stands
Interest in compiling information to monitor activities of logging companies and contractors, to enforce regulations, such as those concerning environmental protection, resource use, fire safety and accident prevention
Interest in precision working to provide technical support to forestry research programs in areas such as tree improvement, seed orchard operations, insect and disease surveys and experimental forestry and forest engineering research
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Forest technicians need:
They should enjoy taking responsibility for projects, having clear rules and organized methods for their work, and solving problems by experimenting.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 21 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Jun 17, 2022 and Dec 02, 2024.
Review these skills to learn:
Attention to detail | 15 |
---|---|
Construction Specialization: Team player | 12 |
Construction Specialization: Organized | 9 |
Work under pressure | 9 |
Experience: 2 years to less than 3 years | 8 |
Tasks: Conduct and supervise forest inventory cruises, surveys and field measurement | 8 |
Tasks: Enforce environmental, fire safety and accident prevention regulation | 8 |
Tasks: Examine drawings for conformity and errors | 8 |
Tasks: Prepare construction specifications, costs and material estimates | 8 |
Tasks: Develop and prepare design sketches | 8 |
Minimum education level varies. Forest technicians may acquire the required skills and knowledge of provincial forest legislation and regulations by training on the job or taking related education programs.
Computer skills are a definite asset, particularly familiarity with GIS and GPS systems.
Some employers use the title forest technician for technical positions requiring a 2-year post-secondary diploma or a university degree.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
Certain professional titles or duties within this occupation are protected by provincial legislation. Requirements vary if you use these titles or perform these duties.
The related legislation is shown below. If there are multiple related legislations, select a certification heading to learn about each one.
A Certified Technician (C.Tech.) is an applied science, information technology, or engineering technology professional. They perform routine technical procedures with occasional direct supervision. They also may assume limited responsibility for decision-making processes.
Under Alberta’s Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act [pdf] and ASET Regulation [pdf], you must register with the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET) to use the protected title Certified Technician (C.Tech.).
You do not have to register if you do not call yourself a Certified Technician.
For information on what you need and other details, visit the certification profile Certified Technician.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Forest technicians are employed by:
In private companies or consulting firms, forestry technicians may be employed as log scalers, logging supervisors, woodland assistants/technicians, silvicultural crew members or supervisors, fire-suppression crew members or supervisors, or road and cutblock specialists.
Experienced forest technicians may advance to supervisory positions or move into related positions in provincial parks, survey crews, vegetation control, reclamation work, the oil and gas industry, woodlot management or forestry equipment operation and supervision. (For more information, see the Logging/Forestry Equipment Operator occupational profile). Additional education is required to move into forest technologist or forester positions.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Forestry technologists and technicians
2016 NOC: 2223
82.0% of people in this occupational group work in:
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
This section shows the short-term demand forecasted for this occupation in Alberta over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2023-2025 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.
This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Starting salaries for forestry technicians vary depending on the type of work performed.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
Lower Reliability, represents a CV of between 15.01% and 33.00% and/or if fewer than 20 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 33% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
---|---|---|---|---|
Starting | $17.00 | $39.54 | $30.85 | $30.91 |
Overall | $17.00 | $48.10 | $36.28 | $35.38 |
Top | $17.00 | $48.10 | $40.33 | $43.27 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
ALL INDUSTRIES | $68,069 |
---|---|
Public Administration | $78,238 |
Alberta Junior Forest Rangers website: alis.alberta.ca/jfr
ECO Canada website: www.eco.ca
Work Wild website: www.workwild.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2017. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.