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Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeModerate pressure

What they do

Teach courses in forestry and conservation science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

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 $101,420 Median per year Most earn $50,100–$148,920

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  • Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  • Act as advisers to student organizations.
  • Supervise students' laboratory or field work.
  • Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 100 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

  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools77.6%
  • Junior colleges21.2%

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

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

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

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This is not an entry-level job. Most people need a doctoral degree plus about 2 to 4 years of related work before they teach at the college level, so the full path usually takes roughly 10 to 13 years after high school.

  1. Bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources, or conservation science

    4 years

    You learn forest ecology, management, and science basics, and you build the foundation for graduate study.

  2. Forestry Technician

    2-4 years

    You gain hands-on field experience in forest management, surveys, or research, which doctoral programs and hiring committees look for.

  3. Doctoral degree in forestry or conservation science

    4-5 years

    You do original research, often serve as a teaching assistant, and learn how to teach college courses, which prepares you for a faculty role.

  4. Assistant Professor of Forestry

    Ongoing

    You teach forestry and conservation courses and usually do research as well, which is the career itself.

Where it can lead

  1. Associate Professor of Forestry

    5-7 years of experience first

    After several years of teaching and research, a faculty member typically earns tenure and a promotion, which brings more responsibility for research and mentoring. Timing varies by school.

  2. Professor of Forestry

    5-10 years of experience first

    Senior faculty lead large research projects, supervise graduate students, and often take on leadership roles in their department or field.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and earth scienceThese classes give you the science base that forestry and conservation degrees build on.
  • Join an environmental or science clubClub projects help you practice research, teamwork, and presenting findings.
  • Volunteer with a park, nature center, or tree-planting groupOutdoor volunteer work shows you what forest management involves day to day.
  • Get a summer job outdoorsJobs on landscaping, trail, or park crews teach you about plants, land, and working in the field.
  • Practice writing and public speakingTeaching and research both require clear explanations and strong writing.

In college

  • Major in forestry, natural resources, or conservation scienceThis is the most direct undergraduate route to graduate study in this field.
  • Work as a research assistant with a professorHelping with field or lab research builds the skills and experience that graduate programs look for.
  • Seek a forestry or land management internshipInternships with agencies or private landowners give you hands-on experience and professional contacts.
  • Become a teaching assistant or tutorTeaching others now builds the skills you will need when you teach college courses later.
  • Join a student forestry or conservation organizationClubs offer leadership experience, networking, and chances to attend professional events.

Tips for getting started

  • Get real field experience early, such as summer forestry crew work or conservation jobs, because it makes you a stronger candidate for graduate school.
  • Build your teaching skills by tutoring, leading study groups, or serving as a teaching assistant, since college teaching jobs value this experience.
  • Talk with professors who teach forestry or conservation and ask how they got into their careers. Their advice is often the most useful guide to the next step.

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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