What Does it Take to Be a Forester?
Forester Definition Manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. May inventory the type, amount, and location of standing timber, appraise the timber’s worth, negotiate the purchase, and draw up contracts for procurement. May determine how to conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality, and soil stability, and how best to comply with environmental regulations. May devise plans for planting and growing new trees, monitor trees for healthy growth, and determine optimal harvesting schedules.
Life As a Forester
- Supervise activities of other forestry workers.
- Plan and implement projects for conservation of wildlife habitats and soil and water quality.
- Develop techniques for measuring and identifying trees.
- Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.
- Conduct public educational programs on forest care and conservation.
- Procure timber from private landowners.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Forester?
These are the skills Foresters say are the most useful in their careers:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Other Forester Job Titles
- Forester
- Urban Forester
- Forestry Supervisor
- Staff Forester
- Forestry Aid
Forester Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 12,300 jobs for Forester in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.9% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 600 new jobs for Forester by 2026. There will be an estimated 1,100 positions for Forester per year.

The states with the most job growth for Forester are Nevada, North Dakota, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Vermont, or South Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Forester
The salary for Foresters ranges between about $41,350 and $86,870 a year.

Foresters who work in New Jersey, District of Columbia, or California, make the highest salaries.
How much do Foresters make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $65,230 |
Alaska | $71,800 |
Arkansas | $56,710 |
California | $80,030 |
Colorado | $61,890 |
Connecticut | $72,010 |
District of Columbia | $86,790 |
Florida | $64,190 |
Georgia | $54,590 |
Idaho | $57,180 |
Illinois | $68,570 |
Indiana | $47,070 |
Iowa | $64,840 |
Kentucky | $47,680 |
Louisiana | $69,890 |
Maine | $52,850 |
Maryland | $64,370 |
Massachusetts | $76,810 |
Michigan | $66,630 |
Minnesota | $64,330 |
Mississippi | $59,900 |
Missouri | $50,180 |
Montana | $57,960 |
Nebraska | $61,530 |
Nevada | $64,160 |
New Hampshire | $64,920 |
New Jersey | $76,760 |
New Mexico | $52,740 |
New York | $65,620 |
North Carolina | $63,610 |
North Dakota | $55,760 |
Ohio | $61,990 |
Oklahoma | $49,390 |
Oregon | $70,660 |
Pennsylvania | $66,170 |
South Carolina | $61,430 |
South Dakota | $54,850 |
Tennessee | $55,610 |
Texas | $64,740 |
Vermont | $65,170 |
Virginia | $59,940 |
Washington | $69,720 |
West Virginia | $57,640 |
Wisconsin | $55,810 |
Wyoming | $60,980 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Foresters
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Foresters may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- IBM Notes
- Geographic information system GIS software
- ESRI ArcView
- Work scheduling software
- Mapping software
- ESRI ArcGIS software
Becoming a Forester
Are there Foresters education requirements?

What work experience do I need to become a Forester?

Foresters Sector

Foresters work in the following industries:

References:
Image Credit: Lynn Betts via Photo by Lynn Betts, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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