O*NET-SOC 45-4011.00 / model V11 rated-task engine

Will AI replace
Forest and Conservation Workers?

Under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, forested areas, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands through such activities as raising and transporting seedlings; combating insects, pests, and diseases harmful to plant life; and building structures to control water, erosion, and leaching of soil. Includes forester aides, seedling pullers, tree planters, and gatherers of nontimber forestry products such as pine straw.

Estimated AI task exposure

Low exposure

V11 weights occupation tasks using O*NET Importance, Relevance and Frequency ratings instead of treating every task equally.

17 tasks have usable Task Rating records; weighted-task coverage is 100%.

Digital/info work

17/100

Physical moat

69/100

Human moat

13/100

Rating coverage

100%

17 task statements / 17 rated

Highest-weighted occupation tasks

Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.

Importance 85/100Relevance 93/100Frequency 55/100Weight 0.81

Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.

Importance 84/100Relevance 79/100Frequency 32/100Weight 0.69

Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.

Importance 80/100Relevance 70/100Frequency 36/100Weight 0.65

Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.

Importance 62/100Relevance 79/100Frequency 36/100Weight 0.62

Explain or enforce regulations regarding camping, vehicle use, fires, use of buildings, or sanitation.

Importance 59/100Relevance 66/100Frequency 36/100Weight 0.56

Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking or measuring efforts.

Importance 62/100Relevance 52/100Frequency 31/100Weight 0.51

Thin or space trees, using power thinning saws.

Importance 58/100Relevance 53/100Frequency 34/100Weight 0.50

Identify diseased or undesirable trees and remove them, using power saws or hand saws.

Importance 57/100Relevance 52/100Frequency 30/100Weight 0.48

Select or cut trees according to markings or sizes, types, or grades.

Importance 57/100Relevance 46/100Frequency 37/100Weight 0.48

Erect signs or fences, using posthole diggers, shovels, or other hand tools.

Importance 48/100Relevance 59/100Frequency 24/100Weight 0.46

Task weighting

Each rated task receives a composite weight: 38% relevance, 37% importance and 25% frequency. Core tasks receive a small additional multiplier. Low-precision rows flagged by O*NET for suppression are excluded.

Occupation scoring

When rating coverage is strong, rated tasks contribute 60% of the digital, physical and human task signals and Work Activities contribute 40%. Lower-coverage occupations automatically rely more on Work Activities.

U.S. labor market

BLS Wage & Employment Outlook

Median annual wage

$43,680

BLS OEWS May 2025

National employment

6,050

BLS OEWS May 2025

Projected growth

-1.5%

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

Average annual openings

2

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

BLS labor-market figures are separate from the site's AI-exposure model. Missing values mean a compatible detailed BLS occupation estimate was not published or could not be mapped.

Career pivot radar

Safer Career Alternatives

These options are selected from the same 923-occupation model. They favor a similar task/work profile with meaningfully lower estimated AI exposure. They are suggestions for exploration, not guarantees of job fit.

SAFER ALTERNATIVE