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Career

Foresters

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeModerate pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $76,400 Median per year · $36.73/hr Most earn $50,790–$109,700

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • 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.
  • Plan and direct construction and maintenance of recreation facilities, fire towers, trails, roads and bridges, ensuring that they comply with guidelines and regulations set for forested public lands.
  • Map forest area soils and vegetation to estimate the amount of standing timber and future value and growth.
  • Develop new techniques for wood or residue use.
  • Plan and supervise forestry projects, such as determining the type, number and placement of trees to be planted, managing tree nurseries, thinning forest and monitoring growth of new seedlings.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • State government, excluding education and hospitals27.6%
  • Support activities for agriculture and forestry12.0%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service11.2%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals10.4%
  • Forestry5.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Foresters usually need a bachelor's degree and about 1 to 2 years of hands-on field experience before landing the job, so plan on roughly 5 to 6 years from starting college. It is not usually an entry-level job straight out of school.

  1. Bachelor's degree in forestry or natural resources

    4 years

    You learn tree biology, soil and water science, mapping, and forest management, which is the base every forester needs.

  2. Forest and Conservation Technician

    1-2 years

    You work in the field measuring timber, collecting data, and helping with planting and monitoring, which builds the practical skills employers look for.

  3. Forester

    Ongoing

    You inventory timber, plan harvests and planting, write contracts, and make sure work follows environmental rules.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Forester

    5-10 years of experience first

    You take on larger tracts of land, supervise other foresters and technicians, and handle more complex planning and client or landowner relationships.

  2. Forest Manager

    8-10 years of experience first

    You oversee the forest operations for a company, agency, or property, including budgets, staff, and long-term land strategy.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, earth science, and mathThese classes build the science and measuring skills used in forest work and in a college forestry major.
  • Join a science, environmental, or 4-H clubClubs often include tree planting, field trips, and projects that show you whether outdoor land work interests you.
  • Volunteer for tree planting or trail workLocal parks, nature centers, or conservation groups often need helpers, and it gives you real outdoor experience.
  • Get a summer or weekend job outdoorsYard crews, camp counselor roles, or park jobs help you learn teamwork and working outside in all weather.
  • Enter a science fair or environmental contestA project on tree growth, soil, or local wildlife teaches research skills that forestry programs value.

In college

  • Major in forestry, natural resources, or a related fieldA degree in forestry or natural resources is the usual route to this career and covers the required tree and land science.
  • Take GIS, statistics, and soil or hydrology coursesMapping, data analysis, and land science are used daily in timber inventory and conservation planning.
  • Seek seasonal forestry or land management internshipsField experience during college helps you meet the 1 to 2 years of work experience employers commonly want.
  • Work a campus or town job on grounds or in parksGroundskeeping, trail crews, or campus natural areas jobs build practical outdoor skills and reliability.
  • Join a forestry or wildlife student clubClubs often run field trips, tree identification practice, and networking with working professionals.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for summer or seasonal field jobs with a forestry crew, parks department, or timber company; the 1 to 2 years of experience employers expect often starts there.
  • Learn basic mapping and data tools such as GIS spreadsheets, since foresters use them every day for inventories and planning.
  • Talk with a working forester or a school advisor about which forestry programs and internships are offered near you.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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