All careersEngineering & science

Forester

$70,660
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Plan and supervise the growth, protection, and harvest of forests and their resources.

Where you work

Forests, timberland, and field offices

The hours

Full-time, outdoor fieldwork

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$70,660
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~1,100
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+1%
Little change
Working in the U.S.
13,800
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's degree.

License or certification

No federal license, though some states require foresters to be licensed or registered.

What it takes

Forest managementMappingPlanningFieldwork

The honest take

Plans and oversees the care and use of forest land.

Standard Occupational Classification 19-1032. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.