84111 – Silviculture and forestry workers
Lead statement
Silviculture and forestry workers perform a variety of duties related to reforestation and to the management, improvement and conservation of forest lands.
Main duties
- Assess site, select seedlings and plant trees using manual planting tools in reforestation areas
- Operate power thinning saw to thin and space trees in reforestation areas
- Operate chain saw to thin young forest stands
- Control weeds and undergrowth in regenerating forest stands using manual tools and chemicals
- Complete firefighting reports and maintain firefighting equipment
- Dig trenches, cut trees, pump water on burning areas to fight forest fires under direction of fire suppression officer or forestry technician
- Operate and maintain a skidder, bulldozer or other prime mover to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated
- Perform other silviculture duties such as collecting seed cones, pruning trees, assisting in planting surveys and marking trees for subsequent operations.
Employment requirements
- Completion of a college or other specialized program for silviculture workers or forestry crew workers may be required.
- Formal training in power saw operation and maintenance and several months of on-the-job training are usually provided.
- Completion of secondary school may be required.
- A silvicultural worker's licence may be required.
- A chemicals application licence is required.
- Workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) and transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) certificates may be required.
- Experience as a logging and forestry labourer may be required.
Example job titles
brush cutter - forestry · clearing saw operator - forestry · fire crewman/woman - forestry · fire lookout · lookout - forestry · fire suppression crewman/woman - forestry · forest firefighter · precommercial tree thinner · forestry conservation worker · forestry crew worker · forestry crewman/woman · forestry worker · forestry worker - logging · pieceworker - silviculture · scarifier operator - silviculture · scarification equipment operator - forestry · scarification equipment operator · seed cone collector · seed cone picker · silviculture worker · thinning saw operator · thinning saw operator - forestry · spacing saw operator - forestry · spacing saw operator · tree pruner - forestry · tree spacer - forestry
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $19.75 | $25.00 | $34.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $18.00 | $23.00 | $29.57 |
| Nova Scotia | $18.00 | $23.28 | $27.00 |
| New Brunswick | $20.00 | $24.30 | $30.74 |
| Quebec | $21.00 | $26.60 | $35.00 |
| Ontario | $20.75 | $25.38 | $33.00 |
| Manitoba | $18.00 | $20.13 | $25.50 |
| Saskatchewan | $15.35 | $20.00 | $27.16 |
| Alberta | $20.00 | $22.44 | $27.12 |
| British Columbia | $21.00 | $27.00 | $38.50 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.