Forest and Conservation Technicians salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Forest and Conservation Technicians in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $61,110 a year ($29.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,070 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $54,560. Pay here is 5% higher than the California statewide median of $58,120. There are 0.74 forest and conservation technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $67,900, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for forest and conservation technicians in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| 25th percentile | $55,890 | $26.87 |
| Median | $61,110 | $29.38 |
| 75th percentile | $81,850 | $39.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,070 | $47.15 |
| Average (mean) | $67,900 | $32.65 |
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 | $5,092.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,546.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,350.38 |
| Weekly | $1,175.19 |
| Hourly | $29.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,110 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 |
| 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 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $46,010 | 50 |
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 Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $62,510 | $30.05 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $66,340 | $31.90 |
| Chemical Technician | $57,610 | $27.70 |
| Biological Technician | $66,110 | $31.79 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $128,620 | $61.84 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $104,000 | $50.00 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $102,120 | $49.10 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $105,500 | $50.72 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $105,230 | $50.59 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $87,260 | $41.95 |
| Chemist | $85,930 | $41.31 |
| School Psychologist | $128,110 | $61.59 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $124,840 | $60.02 |
| Conservation Scientist | $78,340 | $37.66 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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 Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for forest and conservation technicians in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $61,110 a year, or $29.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid forest and conservation technicians make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of forest and conservation technicians in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $98,070 a year. The top 25% earn $81,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for forest and conservation technicians in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,010 a year, and a quarter of forest and conservation technicians earn $55,890 or less.
How many forest and conservation technicians work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 150 forest and conservation technicians are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.