Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Area Forester
- Forester
- Silviculturist
- Timber Sales Administrator (Timber Sales Admin)
Alternate Job Titles
- Area Forester
- Consulting Utility Forester
- Debris Monitor
- District Forester
- Environmental Protection Forester
- Extension Forester
- Fire Prevention Forester
- Forest Ecologist
- Forest Examiner
- Forest Manager
- Forest Pathologist
- Forest Practices Field Coordinator
- Forest Supervisor
- Forester
- Forestry Consultant
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Biology
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Systems Analysis
- Systems Evaluation
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
- Category Flexibility
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Speech Recognition
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Leadership Orientation
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Attention to Detail
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
- Relationships
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- All-terrain vehicles ATV
- Backpack sprayers
- Brush chippers
- Bucket trucks
- Chainsaws
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Digital clinometers
- Forestry axes
- Four wheel drive 4WD vehicles
- Global positioning system GPS devices
- Hand pruners
- Hand saws
- Handheld dataloggers
- Hip chains
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Contact With Others
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $49,240 |
| Median | $70,660 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $103,220 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 9,650
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Forest and Conservation Technicians
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $54,310
Range Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $67,950
Conservation Scientists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $67,950
Forest and Conservation Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $43,680
Environmental Restoration Planners
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.