Foresters
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Walks and inspects forest stands and nurseries, maps soils and vegetation, and estimates how much timber is standing and how it is likely to grow. From that, short- and long-term plans cover when and how to cut, how to sell timber, and how to protect wildlife habitat, soil, and water while meeting environmental rules. Contract work includes negotiating harvest, management, and lease terms, then checking that crews follow those agreements and government regulations. Time is split between outdoor inspection and desk work on maps, plans, and paperwork. Suits people who like combining field observation with careful planning and contract follow-through.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$76'400
Median Wage Market Position
$76'400
What you might do
- Write management plans for public and private forests
- Map soils and plants to estimate standing timber
- Decide how to cut trees with less waste
- Negotiate harvest, management, and land-lease contracts
- Check that logging work follows environmental rules
- Design projects that protect wildlife, soil, and water
Skills that matter
- Negotiation of harvest and lease contracts
- Forest maps of soils and standing timber
- Long-term plans for timber and wildlife
- Cutting methods that limit waste and damage
- Nursery and forest inspections
- Follow-up on forestry rules and contract results
AI & the future of this role
Timber inventories and mapping may lean more on sensors and automated analysis over time. Stand visits, harvest logistics, and multi-use tradeoffs still protect the role through hands-on fieldwork and liability-aware judgment.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details