Foresters: Career Profile
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.
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What Tasks Do Foresters Take On?
Typical responsibilities of foresters include:
- Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
- Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
- Plan and implement projects for conservation of wildlife habitats and soil and water quality.
- Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
- Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.
- Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.
- Perform inspections of forests or forest nurseries.
- Map forest area soils and vegetation to estimate the amount of standing timber and future value and growth.
What Foresters Need to Know
Top foresters combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Foresters Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Area Forester
- Consulting Utility Forester
- Debris Monitor
- District Forester
- Environmental Protection Forester
- Extension Forester
- Fire Prevention Forester
- Forest Ecologist
Job Outlook
There are roughly 88,727 foresters working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +5.1% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Foresters
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $93,406 |
| Hourly median | $44.91 |
| 10th percentile | $51,576 |
| 25th percentile | $72,491 |
| 75th percentile | $114,320 |
| 90th percentile | $135,235 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Foresters Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $98,870 |
| Alaska | $85,550 |
| Iowa | $80,590 |
| Maryland | $79,890 |
| Louisiana | $79,580 |
| New Hampshire | $79,230 |
| Connecticut | $78,610 |
| Michigan | $78,040 |
| Oregon | $77,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,150 |
| South Carolina | $77,030 |
| New York | $76,730 |
| Vermont | $76,360 |
| Illinois | $75,160 |
| Washington | $74,360 |
| Minnesota | $72,280 |
| Texas | $71,180 |
| Alabama | $71,070 |
| North Carolina | $70,320 |
| Colorado | $69,380 |
| Wyoming | $69,260 |
| Virginia | $69,250 |
| Tennessee | $69,180 |
| Ohio | $69,160 |
| Utah | $68,930 |
| Wisconsin | $65,960 |
| Arkansas | $65,960 |
| Mississippi | $65,960 |
| Arizona | $65,960 |
| Massachusetts | $65,390 |
| Montana | $64,200 |
| Kansas | $63,890 |
| New Mexico | $63,860 |
| South Dakota | $63,510 |
| Georgia | $63,360 |
| Missouri | $62,980 |
| Idaho | $62,050 |
| Maine | $61,640 |
| District of Columbia | $61,440 |
| West Virginia | $56,940 |
| Kentucky | $54,580 |
| Indiana | $53,650 |
| Florida | $50,090 |
| Oklahoma | $48,810 |
Where Foresters Earn the Most
Earnings for foresters shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $83,430 | 27.2% | 3.48 |
| Middle Atlantic | $75,782 | 7.6% | 0.69 |
| New England | $69,999 | 7.1% | 2.23 |
| Great Lakes | $69,060 | 14.4% | 1.76 |
| Southwest | $68,894 | 3.4% | 0.35 |
| Plains States | $68,539 | 5.4% | 1.50 |
| Rocky Mountains | $65,115 | 8.7% | 4.99 |
| Southeast | $64,059 | 26.2% | 1.20 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $117,470 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $103,520 | 120 |
| Redding, CA | CA | $101,520 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $101,150 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $98,920 | 110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $98,760 | 50 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $88,500 | 30 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $85,610 | 50 |
Industry Breakdown
Most foresters are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 700 | $78,600 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 630 | $75,560 |
| Utilities | 570 | $98,740 |
| Educational Services | 560 | $50,530 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 370 | $68,070 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 190 | $83,120 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 60 | $60,250 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: Geographic information system GIS systems (in demand)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for foresters is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Contact With Others
How to Become Foresters
Entry-level foresters positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Water Resource Specialists (Supplemental)
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (Primary-Long)
- Agricultural Engineers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Engineers (Supplemental)
- Soil and Plant Scientists (Primary-Long)
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (Supplemental)
- Conservation Scientists (Primary-Short)
- Range Managers (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Aspiring foresters often complete programs in:
Natural Resources and Conservation
9 programs across 3 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-1032.00 (Foresters).
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