Foresters earn a median of $76,400 per year ($36.73/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 2.2% through 2035, with about 900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 19-1032
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Forester in four numbers
- Median pay
- $76,400a year, or $36.73/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $51KTop 10% $110K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.2%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 90013,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202513.2K
- Projected 203513.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 13.2K Projected 2035 13.5K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Area Forester, District Forester, Environmental Protection Forester, Fire Prevention Forester, Forest Silviculturist, Procurement Forester.
Pay
How much do Foresters make?
Every forester in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$76,400
Middle half earn $62,710 to $91,640
- 10th
- $50,790
- 25th
- $62,710
- 75th
- $91,640
- 90th
- $109,700
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $50,790 |
| 25th | $62,710 |
| Median | $76,400 |
| 75th | $91,640 |
| 90th | $109,700 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $76,400
- Median hourly wage
- $36.73/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $79,170
- People employed
- 10,430
Versus all US occupations
At $76,400, Foresters earn 50% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $25,420 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 7% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $109,700 or more while the bottom 10% earn $50,790, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 52% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
California pays the most at $107,120, and still leads at $96,749 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Foresters the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $107,120 | $96,749 | 820 |
| 2Massachusetts | $89,650 | $84,770 | 130 |
| 3Alaska | $87,210 | $85,200 | 80 |
| 4South Carolina | $86,780 | $92,566 | 250 |
| 5Maryland | $86,100 | $82,032 | 120 |
| 6Connecticut | $84,820 | $81,865 | 60 |
| 7Iowa | $83,000 | $94,574 | 50 |
| 8Illinois | $82,160 | $82,195 | 220 |
| 9Oregon | $81,450 | $78,801 | 670 |
| 10Vermont | $80,750 | $82,433 | 80 |
Job outlook
Is Forester a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +2.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Foresters | +2.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Foresters to change 2.2% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 900 openings are projected each year, 6.8% of the 13,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of conservation scientists and foresters is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of conservation scientists and foresters varies by occupation (see table).
Heightened public interest in issues involving the environment, such as protecting wildlife habitats and preserving water supplies, is expected to create demand for conservation scientists.
Getting in
How to become a Forester
Conservation scientists and foresters typically need a bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, or a related field.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Forester do?
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.
Conservation scientists and foresters manage the land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources.
Day-to-day tasks
- Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
- Supervise activities of other forestry workers.
- Study different tree species' classification, life history, light and soil requirements, adaptation to new environmental conditions and resistance to disease and insects.
- Perform inspections of forests or forest nurseries.
- Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
- Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.
- Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
- Map forest area soils and vegetation to estimate the amount of standing timber and future value and growth.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most conservation scientists and foresters work full time, and schedules may vary to include weekends. Some work more than 40 hours per week, such as when traveling to remote locations.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where foresters work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Federal government, excluding postal service27%
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals21%
- Social advocacy organizations20%
- State government, excluding education and hospitals19%
- Professional, scientific, and technical services5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 27% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 21% |
| Social advocacy organizations | 20% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 19% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Monitoring4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Writing3.8
- Active Learning3.3
- Mathematics3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Coordination3.6
- Systems Analysis3.6
- Systems Evaluation3.6
- Time Management3.5
- Negotiation3.4
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.6 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.6 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.6 |
| Time Management | 3.5 |
| Negotiation | 3.4 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Forester?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Forester |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Realistic5.3
- Investigative4.5
- Conventional4.4
- Enterprising3.8
- Social2.3
- Artistic1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Forester
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health
$82,220median a year
Most earn $53K to $140K
+6.1%Bachelor's
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with foresters highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Forester$76,400
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Forester | $76,400 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within forester
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Forester appears on
Questions
Forester: frequently asked questions
How much do Foresters make?
Foresters earn a median of $76,400 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 50% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $36.73/hr. The middle half earn between $62,710 and $91,640. The top 10% earn $109,700 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Forester?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Foresters, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation.
Is Forester a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 2.2% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Forester do?
Conservation scientists and foresters manage the land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources. A core O*NET task: monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Geographic information system.
Which states pay Foresters the most?
The highest state medians for Foresters are California ($107,120), Massachusetts ($89,650), Alaska ($87,210) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Forester?
O*NET scores Foresters highest on the Realistic, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.