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Career overview · SOC 19-1032

Foresters

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.

Also called: Area Forester · District Forester · Fire Prevention Forester · Forest Practices Field Coordinator · Forester · Procurement Forester

Median pay (national)
$70,660
$49,240–$103,220 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
9,650
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+1.2%
~1,100 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for foresters shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $103,220 versus $49,240 at the bottom 10% — 2.1x. The median of $70,660 leaves roughly 46% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +1.2% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 1,100 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 44 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $98,870, +40% vs the national median), while Oklahoma sits lowest at $48,810 — a 103% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags ESRI ArcGIS software, Geographic information system GIS systems, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software as in-demand technologies for this role.

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Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Active Listening
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Writing
  • Monitoring
  • Active Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Learning Strategies
  • Science

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Monitor forest-cleared lands to ensure that they are reclaimed to their most suitable end use.
  • Develop techniques for measuring and identifying trees.
  • Supervise activities of other forestry workers.

Tools & technology

  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • Geographic information system GIS systems
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
  • ESRI ArcView
  • Forest Metrix
  • Forest vegetation simulators
  • Forest yield software
  • Fountains Forestry TwoDog
  • Geographic information system GIS software
  • Global positioning system GPS software
  • IBM Notes
  • Mapping software
  • SMART service management and route tracking software

Knowledge areas

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Administration and Management
  • Biology
  • Law and Government
  • Mathematics
  • Geography
  • Public Safety and Security