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.

SOC: 19-1032.00

Common Job Titles

Area ForesterForesterSilviculturistTimber Sales Administrator (Timber Sales Admin)
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Annual wage data for Foresters (2024)

Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)

9,650

Wage Distribution by Percentile

MetricU.S.
10% of workers earn the following or less$49,240
10% of workers earn the following or more$103,220
Workers on average earn$74,670

+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)

Skills & Requirements

Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance

  • Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
  • English Language3.8/5
  • Administration and Management3.8/5
  • Biology3.7/5
  • Law and Government3.4/5
Tools & Technology

Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation

In-Demand Technology

Frequently requested by employers in job postings

ESRI ArcGIS softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Active Server Pages ASPMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft Word

Technology Skills

ESRI ArcViewForest MetrixForest vegetation simulatorsForest yield softwareFountains Forestry TwoDogGeographic information system GIS softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsGlobal positioning system GPS software

Tools & Equipment

All-terrain vehicles ATVBackpack sprayersBrush chippersBucket trucksChainsawsComputer data input scannersComputer laser printersDigital clinometers