Occupations · Life, Physical, and Social Science

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.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 19-1032.00

$70,660median annual wage, May 2024

9,650people employed, United States

▲ 1.2%projected change, 2024→2034

1,100openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 49% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$65,320	190
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$77,700	140
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$81,140	130
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$103,520	120
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	$78,860	110
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA	$98,920	110
Salem, OR	$85,150	100
Olympia-Tumwater, WA	$67,370	90
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$74,360	90
Eugene, OR	$74,280	80
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$66,630	80
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$73,210	70

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: Bachelor's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

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.
Procure timber from private landowners.
Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.
Subcontract with loggers or pulpwood cutters for tree removal and to aid in road layout.
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.
Supervise activities of other forestry workers.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Active Listening4.0

Reading Comprehension3.9

Speaking3.9

Critical Thinking3.9

Writing3.8

Monitoring3.8

Active Learning3.1

Mathematics2.9

Learning Strategies2.9

Science2.8

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

ESRI ArcGIS software●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Word●ESRI ArcViewForest MetrixForest vegetation simulatorsForest yield softwareFountains Forestry TwoDogGeographic information system GIS softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsGlobal positioning system GPS softwareIBM NotesMapping softwareSMART service management and route tracking softwareTrimble CENGEAWeb browser softwareWork scheduling software

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

4 / 5Considerable preparation — a four-year degree plus several years in the field.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment+2.2 above average

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions+1.7 above average

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls−1.4 below average

Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures+1.1 above average

Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings+1.0 above average

Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled+0.9 above average

E-Mail+0.8 above average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2023-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree84%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)13%

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)1%

Master's Degree1%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2023-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Realistic5.3

Investigative4.5

Conventional4.4

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Complex Problem Solving3.9

Judgment and Decision Making3.8

Systems Evaluation3.6

Systems Analysis3.6

Time Management3.5

Coordination3.5

Social Perceptiveness3.2

Negotiation3.2

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementBiologyLaw and GovernmentMathematics

Abilities it leans on

Oral ComprehensionInformation OrderingWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionCategory FlexibilityDeductive Reasoning

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

ForesterTimber MarkerArea ForesterUrban ForesterDebris MonitorSilviculturistForest ManagerForest ExaminerUtility ForesterForest EcologistUtility ArboristService ForesterResource ForesterForest Supervisor

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 2 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 7

+Geographic information system GIS systems+Microsoft Office software+Global positioning system GPS software+Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP+IBM Notes+ESRI ArcView+SMART service management and route tracking software

No longer listed 2

−Data entry software−SMART

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

ForesterForestry AidTimber MarkerArea ForesterUnit ForesterDebris MonitorStaff ForesterForest ManagerSilviculturistUrban ForesterForest ExaminerUtility Arborist

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
forestry technician	3143.1	close
forest worker	9215.1	close
natural resources consultant	2133.8	close
nature conservation officer	2133.9	close
botanical technician	3141.2.4	close
conservation scientist	2133.3	close
forest ranger	6210.1	broader
forester	1311.1	broader
forestry adviser	2132.5	broader
forestry inspector	3359.4	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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