Forester

Explore This Path

Ideal for nature lovers passionate about sustainable forest management.
Protect ecosystems while balancing economic and recreational forest use.
Plan and oversee tree planting, ensuring healthy forest growth.

💰 Earn $52K-$101K

📚 Bachelor Degree

⏱️ 24–48 MONTH TRAINING

📈 3% JOB GROWTH

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What You’ll 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.

Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
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.
Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.
Supervise activities of other forestry workers.

Scoop

Minimum Education

Bachelor Degree

Career Prospects

Good (Increasing by 1-5%)

Training Time

2 to 4 years

Job Openings

1,400 Annually

Median Earnings

$83,930 in California

$67,330 Nationally

$25K

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Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Influencing or leading others
Thinking and problem solving
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Complex Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Science

You value 🙏

Accomplishing things
Having freedom
Job security

Deep Dive

Forester

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years