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.
Common Job Titles
- Area Forester
- Forester
- Silviculturist
- Timber 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
Line chart of annual wages by percentile. U.S. is the solid line. 10th percentile: U.S. $49,240. 25th percentile: U.S. $58,810. 50th percentile: U.S. $70,660. 75th percentile: U.S. $85,450. 90th percentile: U.S. $103,220. Use the left and right arrow keys to move between percentiles.
- U.S.
| Metric | U.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 software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Technology Skills
- ESRI ArcView
- Forest Metrix
- Forest vegetation simulators
- Forest yield software
- Fountains Forestry TwoDog
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Global positioning system GPS software
Tools & Equipment
- All-terrain vehicles ATV
- Backpack sprayers
- Brush chippers
- Bucket trucks
- Chainsaws
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Digital clinometers