19-1032

Foresters

Role Overview

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.

Recommended Majors

Natural Resources/Conservation, General. Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General. Forestry, General. Forest Sciences and Biology. Forest Management/Forest Resources Management. Urban Forestry. Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology/Technician. Forest Resources Production and Management. Forestry, Other.

Related Careers

Agricultural and Food Science Technicians Agricultural and Food Scientists Agricultural Technicians Animal Scientists Anthropologists and Archeologists Astronomers

Salary by State (top paying)

State	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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for this career?

Projected growth and annual openings are from BLS Employment Projections. Use the sidebar for median salary and growth rate.

How does salary vary by state?

See the Salary by State table above for state-level median wages from OEWS data.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), BLS Employment Projections.

Median Annual Salary

$70,660

Projected Growth (10yr)

+1.2%

Avg. annual openings

1.1k

Market Insight

Explore salary and growth data to understand demand and earning potential for this role.