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 ListeningComplex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingWritingJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoring
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementBiologyLaw and Government
Technology & tools
Geographic information systemInventory management softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareMobile location based services softwareElectronic mail software
Representative tasks
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.Map forest area soils and vegetation to estimate the amount of standing timber and future value and growth.Monitor forest-cleared lands to ensure that they are reclaimed to their most suitable end use.Develop techniques for measuring and identifying trees.Supervise activities of other forestry workers.Plan and direct forest surveys and related studies and prepare reports and recommendations.Provide advice and recommendations, as a consultant on forestry issues, to private woodlot owners, firefighters, government agencies or to companies.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.Choose and prepare sites for new trees, using controlled burning, bulldozers, or herbicides to clear weeds, brush, and logging debris.Procure timber from private landowners.Subcontract with loggers or pulpwood cutters for tree removal and to aid in road layout.Direct, and participate in, forest fire suppression.Analyze effect of forest conditions on tree growth rates and tree species prevalence and the yield, duration, seed production, growth viability, and germination of different species.Study different tree species' classification, life history, light and soil requirements, adaptation to new environmental conditions and resistance to disease and insects.Plan and direct construction and maintenance of recreation facilities, fire towers, trails, roads and bridges, ensuring that they comply with guidelines and regulations set for forested public lands.Conduct public educational programs on forest care and conservation.Monitor wildlife populations and assess the impacts of forest operations on population and habitats.Contact local forest owners and gain permission to take inventory of the type, amount, and location of all standing timber on the property.Develop new techniques for wood or residue use.
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
41 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Consulting Utility ForesterForest PathologistFire Prevention ForesterForestry ScientistForest Practices Field CoordinatorProcurement ForesterFire Protection (Air Force 3E7X1)Silviculture ForesterResource ForesterForestry ConsultantUrban ForesterTimber Management SpecialistForesterForest EcologistArea ForesterForest ManagerEnvironmental Protection ForesterTimber Management Assistant (TMA)Utility ForesterForestry SpecialistService ForesterTimber MarkerExtension ForesterLand Management ForesterFire Protection Journeyman (Air Force 3E751)Timber Sales Administrator (Timber Sales Admin)Fire Protection Manager (Air Force 3E700)SilviculturistDistrict ForesterOperations ForesterTransmission ForesterFire Protection Helper (Air Force 3E711)Fire Protection Craftsman (Air Force 3E771)Forestry SupervisorFire Protection Superintendent (Air Force 3E791)Debris MonitorFire Protection Apprentice (Air Force 3E731)Forest SupervisorNatural Resources SpecialistForest Examiner