Farming, fishing & forestry · SOC 45-4011
Forest and conservation workers
BLS projects 14,700 jobs in 2025 to become 14,500 by 2035 — -1.5%, against +3.5% across all occupations.
-1.5%
projected change to 2035
About 200 fewer jobs
2,200
openings a year
15.0% of the occupation a year, counting people who retire or move on
$43,680
median annual pay
Usually entered with: high school diploma or equivalent
2025 to 2035
Employment at the start and end of the projection, in jobs.
- 2025 employment14,700
- 2035 projected14,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025–2035 projections.
Other farming, fishing & forestry occupations
The largest occupations in the same group, by projected change to 2035.
- Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse546,800-2.4%
- Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals202,100-3.2%
- Agricultural equipment operators66,900+8.6%
- First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers57,600+3.8%
- Graders and sorters, agricultural products45,400-3.4%
- Logging equipment operators29,300-3.8%
- Fishing and hunting workers28,200-4.2%
- Agricultural inspectors17,800+2.3%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.