Forester
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
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 · Environmental Protection Forester · Fire Prevention Forester · Forest Silviculturist · Procurement Forester · Resource Forester · Service Forester
O*NET-SOC 19-1032.00 (Foresters)
Forester salary
Wages for foresters across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $36.73.
Forester pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $71,110 | $107,120 | $156,750 |
| Texas | $60,590 | $80,370 | $101,980 |
| Florida | $49,920 | $64,130 | $112,660 |
| New York | $58,240 | $73,710 | $108,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,590 | $78,280 | $111,970 |
| Illinois | $60,230 | $82,160 | $120,150 |
| Ohio | $53,270 | $73,320 | $96,260 |
| Georgia | $31,460 | $76,970 | $109,700 |
| North Carolina | $46,800 | $77,870 | $96,900 |
| Michigan | $57,620 | $75,920 | $98,570 |
Forester job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 13,200 jobs in 2025 to 13,500 in 2035 (2% change).
- About 900 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Below Average.
How to become a forester
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- No on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Bachelor's degree71.6%
- Master's degree25.2%
- Doctoral or professional degree3.2%
Related training programs
- Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General
- Forest Management/Forest Resources Management
- Forest Resources Production and Management
- Forest Sciences and Biology
- Forestry, General
- Forestry, Other
- Natural Resources/Conservation, General
- Urban Forestry
- Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology/Technician
What does a forester do?
Common tasks
- 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.
- Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
- Perform inspections of forests or forest nurseries.
- Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
- Supervise activities of other forestry workers.
- Provide advice and recommendations, as a consultant on forestry issues, to private woodlot owners, firefighters, government agencies or to companies.
- Develop techniques for measuring and identifying trees.
- Map forest area soils and vegetation to estimate the amount of standing timber and future value and growth.
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Monitoring
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
- Writing
- Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Forester certifications
The certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- International Society of Arboriculture · Specialty
- Forest Service · Skill
- Certified Forester (CF)Society of American Foresters · Core
Forester jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more natural resources & parks jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Natural Resources & Parks jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
Related careers
- Forestry Technician
- Range Managers
- Conservation Scientists
- Forest and Conservation Workers
- Environmental Restoration Planners
- Environmental Scientist
- Soil and Plant Scientists
- Industrial Ecologists
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
More natural resources & parks careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Foresters. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.