Forest and Conservation Technicians salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Forest and Conservation Technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $46,010 a year ($22.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,260 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $54,560. Pay here is 21% lower than the California statewide median of $58,120. There are 0.54 forest and conservation technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $50,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for forest and conservation technicians in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,750 | $21.04 |
| 25th percentile | $43,830 | $21.07 |
| Median | $46,010 | $22.12 |
| 75th percentile | $52,790 | $25.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,260 | $32.82 |
| Average (mean) | $50,610 | $24.33 |
Half of forest and conservation technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,834.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,917.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,769.62 |
| Weekly | $884.81 |
| Hourly | $22.12 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,010 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Forest and Conservation Technicians salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $74,410 | 90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $63,150 | 590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $62,400 | 110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $61,880 | 370 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $61,110 | 590 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $61,110 | 150 |
| Salinas, CA | $59,920 | 120 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $59,590 | 90 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $57,160 | 50 |
| Visalia, CA | $52,690 | 170 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $51,360 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for forest and conservation technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | $68,600 |
| Alaska | $68,160 |
| Maryland | $64,980 |
| Wisconsin | $62,700 |
| Louisiana | $59,370 |
| Minnesota | $58,990 |
| California | $58,120 |
| New York | $58,030 |
| Colorado | $57,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,370 |
See Forest and Conservation Technicians pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Technician | $66,240 | $31.84 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $66,000 | $31.73 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $66,290 | $31.87 |
| Chemical Technician | $57,390 | $27.59 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $134,060 | $64.45 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $112,270 | $53.98 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $103,610 | $49.81 |
| Chemist | $95,840 | $46.08 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $106,430 | $51.17 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,400 | $47.31 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $112,860 | $54.26 |
| Conservation Scientist | $72,860 | $35.03 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $136,120 | $65.44 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $66,040 | $31.75 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a forest and conservation technicians make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for forest and conservation technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $46,010 a year, or $22.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid forest and conservation technicians make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of forest and conservation technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $68,260 a year. The top 25% earn $52,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for forest and conservation technicians in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,750 a year, and a quarter of forest and conservation technicians earn $43,830 or less.
How many forest and conservation technicians work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 50 forest and conservation technicians are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.