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Forest resource specialist vs forest technician

The differences between forest resource specialists and forest technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a forest resource specialist, becoming a forest technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a forest resource specialist has an average salary of $50,131, which is higher than the $36,614 average annual salary of a forest technician.

The top three skills for a forest resource specialist include management plans, GIS and . The most important skills for a forest technician are GPS, data collection, and harvest.

Forest resource specialist vs forest technician overview

Forest Resource SpecialistForest Technician
Yearly salary$50,131$36,614
Hourly rate$24.10$17.60
Growth rate-3%-
Number of jobs7,5625,732
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age3838
Years of experience212

Forest resource specialist vs forest technician salary

Forest resource specialists and forest technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Forest Resource SpecialistForest Technician
Average salary$50,131$36,614
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $77,000Between $27,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City-Birmingham, AL
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Washington State University
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between forest resource specialist and forest technician education

There are a few differences between a forest resource specialist and a forest technician in terms of educational background:

Forest Resource SpecialistForest Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorSocial SciencesForestry
Most common collegeUniversity of FloridaDuke University

Forest resource specialist vs forest technician demographics

Here are the differences between forest resource specialists' and forest technicians' demographics:

Forest Resource SpecialistForest Technician
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 87.5% Female, 12.5%Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 24.2% Asian, 1.9% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.0%Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 6.2% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage3%8%

Differences between forest resource specialist and forest technician duties and responsibilities

Forest resource specialist example responsibilities.

  • Assist children on the autism spectrum academically and socially to achieve integration into a mainstream educational environment.
  • Collaborate with interdisciplinary team regarding a new hospital initiative to identify high risk patients and ensure proper follow up post hospitalization.
  • Coordinate a restoration and conservation grant program locating, surveying and controlling invasive wetland species.

Forest technician example responsibilities.

  • Survey back-country old-growth timber, fight forest fires, manage brush, and replant forests after harvest.
  • Mark timber sale unit boundaries, sensitive areas for protection using GPS, aerial and GIS maps.
  • Fall trees, cut and clear brush, and dig trenches to create firelines, using axes, chainsaws or shovels.
  • Used drip torches for back lighting when need.
  • Used GIS to plot and map power lines for the power company.
  • Utilize the most current and innovative forestry software to prepare cruise inventory reports and GIS mapping.
  • Show more

Forest resource specialist vs forest technician skills

Common forest resource specialist skills
  • Management Plans, 57%
  • GIS, 43%
Common forest technician skills
  • GPS, 27%
  • Data Collection, 15%
  • Harvest, 11%
  • Forests, 11%
  • GIS, 10%
  • Wildlife Habitat, 8%

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