Science · Career brief

Foresters

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Foresters at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$76,400

Above the middle on pay

2025 national median. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

2.2%

Slow projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

900

Low national opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Bottom quarter for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is typically expected

Bachelor's degree. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (13,200 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

ChooseField take

The national benchmarks are mixed, so the work itself and the route in matter more than any standout pay or demand signal. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a bachelor's-degree path. Main tradeoff: This is a small national occupation (13,200 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median…

Before choosing, compare:Conservation Scientists Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Animal Scientists

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Foresters with another field Explore rankings in Science Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$76,400

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

2.2%employment growth900openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Bachelor's degree

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

13,200

A small national occupation; local availability may be uneven.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Foresters (19-1032).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

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.
Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (13,200 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.
Operating or riding in vehicles is a recurring part of the work rather than an occasional trip.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.5
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.4
Communicating with People Outside the Organization4.3
Documenting/Recording Information4.3
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings4.2

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic5.3
Investigative4.5
Conventional4.4
Enterprising3.8
Social2.3
Artistic1.3

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Biology Law and Government Mathematics Geography

Software and tools named in job postings

ESRI ArcGIS software Geographic information system GIS systems

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Run a small investigation with a written hypothesis, observations or public data, and a conclusion that states what the evidence cannot prove.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Foresters nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions. Examples of tools used in the occupation include ESRI ArcGIS software, Geographic information system GIS systems; check which ones employers near you actually require.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options