CFChooseField
Science

Foresters

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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Foresters
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Median pay

$70,660
Median annual pay for Foresters.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

1.2%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

1,100
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

13,800
Estimated U.S. employment for Foresters in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+200
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

Bachelor's degree
Typical education needed to enter Foresters.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Critical Thinking
  3. 3Reading Comprehension
  4. 4Speaking
  5. 5Monitoring
  6. 6Writing

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Customer and Personal Service
  2. 2English Language
  3. 3Administration and Management
  4. 4Biology
  5. 5Law and Government
  6. 6Mathematics

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Comprehension
  2. 2Category Flexibility
  3. 3Deductive Reasoning
  4. 4Inductive Reasoning
  5. 5Information Ordering
  6. 6Oral Expression

Career interests

  1. 1Realistic
  2. 2Investigative
  3. 3Conventional
  4. 4Enterprising
  5. 5Social
  6. 6Artistic

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Leadership Orientation
  3. 3Integrity
  4. 4Cautiousness
  5. 5Attention to Detail
  6. 6Perseverance

Work activities

  1. 1Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  2. 2Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  3. 3Communicating with People Outside the Organization
  4. 4Documenting/Recording Information
  5. 5Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  6. 6Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Work context

  1. 1E-Mail
  2. 2Telephone Conversations
  3. 3Freedom to Make Decisions
  4. 4Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
  5. 5Contact With Others
  6. 6Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Representative tasks

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Perform inspections of forests or forest nurseries.
  • Map forest area soils and vegetation to estimate the amount of standing timber and future value and growth.

Software and tools

ESRI ArcGIS software · in demandMicrosoft PowerPoint · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandMicrosoft Excel · in demandGeographic information system GIS systems · in demandMicrosoft Word · hot technologyMicrosoft Outlook · hot technologyMicrosoft Active Server Pages ASP · hot technologyMicrosoft Access · hot technologyTrimble CENGEASMART service management and route tracking softwareMapping software

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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