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.

$69,060
Median Annual Pay
Jobs growth:
+3% projected 2024โ€“2034
Bachelor's degree
Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Foresters manage and protect forest lands, balancing environmental health with economic and recreational uses. They spend time both outdoors and in offices, conducting field surveys to assess tree populations, measuring timber volume, and evaluating forest health. During site visits, they identify tree species, check for disease or pest damage, and monitor water quality in streams and watersheds. They also develop management plans that outline sustainable harvesting schedules, reforestation strategies, and wildlife habitat protection measures.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)Webster University, MO
$81,807
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)Yale University, CT
$75,985
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(professional)University of California-Berkeley, CA
$75,666
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(bachelors)Columbia Southern University, AL
$74,546
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)American University, DC
$73,531
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)Harvard University, MA
$72,276
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)University of San Francisco, CA
$69,495
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(bachelors)Bentley University, MA
$68,600
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)The University of Texas at Arlington, TX
$67,876
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)Duke University, NC
$67,458
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)University of Pennsylvania, PA
$64,831
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)Arizona State University Campus Immersion, AZ
$64,193
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)Arizona State University Digital Immersion, AZ
$64,193
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt, CA
$63,768
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)American Public University System, WV
$63,243
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY
$62,493
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, CA
$62,270
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)Loyola Marymount University, CA
$62,270
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)California State University-Chico, CA
$62,270
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)San Francisco State University, CA
$62,270
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)Stanford University, CA
$62,270
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)Chapman University, CA
$62,270
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)San Jose State University, CA
$62,270
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)California State University-Los Angeles, CA
$62,270
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(masters)California State University-Monterey Bay, CA
$62,270

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