Occupation · SOC 19-1032
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.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
230 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingWritingMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisTime ManagementCoordinationSocial PerceptivenessNegotiationPersuasionManagement of Personnel ResourcesManagement of Material ResourcesActive LearningService OrientationOperations MonitoringInstructingOperations AnalysisOperation and ControlMathematicsManagement of Financial ResourcesLearning StrategiesScienceQuality Control AnalysisTechnology DesignEquipment SelectionTroubleshootingRepairingEquipment MaintenanceProgrammingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementBiologyLaw and GovernmentMathematicsGeographyPublic Safety and SecurityEducation and TrainingComputers and ElectronicsAdministrativeCommunications and MediaProduction and ProcessingTransportationEngineering and TechnologyMechanicalEconomics and AccountingPersonnel and Human ResourcesSales and MarketingChemistryTelecommunicationsHistory and ArcheologyBuilding and ConstructionPhysicsDesignSociology and AnthropologyFood ProductionPsychologyForeign LanguagePhilosophy and TheologyTherapy and CounselingMedicine and DentistryFine Arts
Technology & tools
ESRI ArcGIS softwareESRI ArcViewForest MetrixForest vegetation simulatorsForest yield softwareFountains Forestry TwoDogGeographic information system GIS softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsGlobal positioning system GPS softwareIBM NotesMapping softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Active Server Pages ASPMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordSMART service management and route tracking softwareTrimble CENGEAWeb browser softwareWork scheduling software
Representative tasks
Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationDocumenting/Recording InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsScheduling Work and ActivitiesPerforming Administrative ActivitiesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsGetting InformationWorking with ComputersAnalyzing Data or InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersProcessing InformationOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentPerforming General Physical ActivitiesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersThinking CreativelyControlling Machines and ProcessesHandling and Moving ObjectsTraining and Teaching OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentSelling or Influencing OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentAssisting and Caring for Others
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Forest inspection protocols — follow and apply under direct supervision when conducting field assessments of timber stands and nursery sites.Standing timber inventory data — collect and record using GIS tools and field instruments on assigned forest tracts.Soil and vegetation maps — assist in creating using map creation software under the guidance of a senior forester.Government forestry regulations — identify and reference when reviewing contract documentation in a professional forestry office setting.Timber harvesting methods — recognize differences between cutting approaches and their environmental implications during supervised site visits.Wildlife habitat features — observe and document as part of entry-level conservation planning activities in managed forest environments.Forestry reports and technical documents — read and summarize key findings under supervision to support team decision-making.Forest management plans — assist in drafting short-term sections using office suite and spreadsheet software with guidance from senior staff.Timber sales data — enter and organize in inventory management software to support production goal tracking by the forestry team.Active listening and communication skills — apply when participating in stakeholder and client meetings alongside experienced foresters.
developing
Forest inspection programs — conduct independently at assigned nurseries and timber stands, documenting findings in compliance with regulatory standards.Soil and vegetation mapping outputs — produce using GIS and analytical software to estimate timber volume and project future stand growth.Short-term forest management plans — develop and implement for defined tracts, coordinating activities with logging crews and land managers.Timber cutting methods — evaluate and recommend to minimize waste and environmental damage during routine harvesting operations.Contract terms and conditions — review and propose modifications for forest harvesting and leasing agreements with oversight from senior foresters.Wildlife habitat and watershed conservation projects — plan and coordinate in familiar multi-stakeholder environments with moderate autonomy.Timber sales records and production metrics — monitor using inventory management software to identify variances from company production goals.Government regulation compliance — verify and report on during periodic field audits of active forestry contracts and operations.Forest resource data — analyze using analytical and scientific software to support evidence-based management recommendations.Technical forestry reports — write clearly and accurately for regulatory submissions and internal management review in a professional office context.
proficient
Long-term forest management strategies — establish and implement autonomously across the full scope of a forest property, integrating ecological and economic objectives.Complex harvesting contract negotiations — lead independently, balancing legal, environmental, and production considerations with private landowners and government agencies.Multi-year timber production programs — design and manage to achieve company yield targets while ensuring minimal ecological disruption across diverse terrain.Regulatory compliance oversight — conduct comprehensive assessments of forestry operations, identifying and resolving non-conformance issues without supervisory direction.Advanced GIS and spatial analysis tools — apply to produce detailed forest resource maps supporting strategic planning and valuation in complex landscapes.Soil and water quality conservation programs — develop and lead, integrating hydrology, biology, and land use data to meet long-term sustainability goals.Non-routine forest management challenges — diagnose and resolve using systems analysis and critical thinking when novel pest, climate, or regulatory conditions arise.Forest leasing agreements — negotiate and finalize end-to-end, applying knowledge of land law, contract administration, and forest economics independently.Wildlife habitat conservation plans — design comprehensively, coordinating interdisciplinary scientific data and stakeholder input across large and complex forest systems.Forestry operations monitoring frameworks — develop and maintain, using mobile location-based services and database software to track project outcomes against management benchmarks.
advanced
Organizational forest management vision — set and communicate strategically, guiding multi-year land stewardship programs across large portfolios of public or private forest lands.Enterprise-level contract negotiation strategy — lead for high-value timber harvesting, land leasing, and conservation agreements, representing the organization with government and industry partners.Regulatory policy interpretation and advocacy — engage with government agencies to shape compliance standards and influence forestry regulations affecting the broader industry.Regional conservation program leadership — direct multi-agency wildlife habitat and watershed initiatives, integrating scientific research with policy and community engagement at scale.Forestry team development and mentorship — design training programs and mentor junior and mid-level foresters, building organizational capability in technical and adaptive management skills.Cross-functional forest resource planning — lead interdisciplinary teams of ecologists, engineers, and legal advisors to produce integrated long-range management plans for complex forest systems.Organizational GIS and data infrastructure — oversee the adoption and governance of geospatial, inventory, and analytical technology platforms to drive evidence-based forestry decision-making.Timber production and business performance — align forest harvesting programs with enterprise financial goals, reporting outcomes to executive leadership and board-level stakeholders.Forest systems risk and resilience strategy — develop organizational frameworks for responding to fire, pest, climate, and market disruptions across managed forest estates.Industry knowledge transfer and thought leadership — represent the organization at professional conferences and in published technical work, advancing best practices in sustainable forest management.
Also known as
34 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Area ForesterConsulting Utility ForesterDebris MonitorDistrict ForesterEnvironmental Protection ForesterExtension ForesterFire Prevention ForesterForest EcologistForest ExaminerForest ManagerForest PathologistForest Practices Field CoordinatorForest SupervisorForesterForestry ConsultantForestry ScientistForestry SpecialistForestry SupervisorLand Management ForesterNatural Resources SpecialistOperations ForesterProcurement ForesterResource ForesterService ForesterSilviculture ForesterSilviculturistTimber Management Assistant (TMA)Timber Management SpecialistTimber MarkerTimber Sales Administrator (Timber Sales Admin)Transmission ForesterUrban ForesterUtility ArboristUtility Forester