Foresters
SOC: 19-1032.00

Description:

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.

National Salary Information:

Hourly Statistics:

Annual Statistics:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 wage data.

Employment Projections:

Employment (2014):
15,500 employed

Projected (2024):
16,800 employed

Projected growth (2014-2024)


Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 2014-2024 employment projections external site. "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2014-2024). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Alternate Titles:

  • Area Forester
  • Chief Unit Forester
  • Environmental Protection Forester
  • Extension Forester
  • Fire Prevention Forester
  • Forest Examiner
  • Forest Manager
  • Forest Pathologist
  • Forest Practices Field Coordinator
  • Forest Supervisor
  • Forester
  • Forestry Aid
  • Forestry Consultant
  • Forestry Scientist
  • Forestry Supervisor
  • Forestry Technician
  • Land Management Forester
  • Operations Forester
  • Regional Forester
  • Resource Forester
  • Silviculture Forester
  • Silviculturist
  • Staff Forester
  • Timber Management Assistant
  • Timber Management Specialist
  • Urban Forester
  • Utility Forester
  • Wildlife Removal Specialist

    • Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

    Experience:

    A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

    Education:

    Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

    Job Training:

    Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

    Required Skills:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Monitoring
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Coordination
  • Persuasion
  • Negotiation
  • Instructing
  • Service Orientation
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Operations Analysis
  • Technology Design
  • Equipment Selection
  • Programming
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Operation and Control
  • Troubleshooting
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Systems Analysis
  • Systems Evaluation
  • Time Management
  • Management of Financial Resources
  • Management of Material Resources
  • Management of Personnel Resources

    • Knowledge Used:

  • Administration and Management
  • Clerical
  • Economics and Accounting
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Production and Processing
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Design
  • Building and Construction
  • Mechanical
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Psychology
  • Sociology and Anthropology
  • Geography
  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Therapy and Counseling
  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • History and Archeology
  • Philosophy and Theology
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Law and Government
  • Telecommunications
  • Communications and Media
  • Transportation

    • Tasks:

  • Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
  • Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
  • Supervise activities of other forestry workers.
  • Choose and prepare sites for new trees, using controlled burning, bulldozers, or herbicides to clear weeds, brush, and logging debris.
  • 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.
  • Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
  • Direct, and participate in, forest fire suppression.
  • Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.
  • 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.
  • Monitor forest-cleared lands to ensure that they are reclaimed to their most suitable end use.
  • Plan and implement projects for conservation of wildlife habitats and soil and water quality.
  • Plan and direct forest surveys and related studies and prepare reports and recommendations.
  • 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.
  • Conduct public educational programs on forest care and conservation.
  • Procure timber from private landowners.
  • Subcontract with loggers or pulpwood cutters for tree removal and to aid in road layout.
  • Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.
  • Monitor wildlife populations and assess the impacts of forest operations on population and habitats.
  • 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.
  • Contact local forest owners and gain permission to take inventory of the type, amount, and location of all standing timber on the property.
  • Provide advice and recommendations, as a consultant on forestry issues, to private woodlot owners, firefighters, government agencies or to companies.
  • Study different tree species' classification, life history, light and soil requirements, adaptation to new environmental conditions and resistance to disease and insects.
  • Develop new techniques for wood or residue use.
  • Develop techniques for measuring and identifying trees.

    • Tools & Technology:

  • All-terrain vehicles ATV
  • Backpack sprayers
  • Brush chippers
  • Bucket trucks
  • Chainsaws
  • Computer data input scanners
  • Computer laser printers
  • Digital clinometers
  • Forestry axes
  • Four wheel drive 4WD vehicles
  • Global positioning system GPS devices
  • Hand pruners
  • Hand saws
  • Handheld dataloggers
  • Hip chains
  • Laptop computers
  • Multipurpose front end loaders
  • Multipurpose skid steer loaders
  • Navigational compasses
  • Personal computers
  • Pole pruners
  • Power loppers
  • Power pruners
  • Steel measuring tapes
  • Stump grinders
  • Tablet computers
  • Tree scale sticks
  • Weed sprayers
  • Data entry software
  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • ESRI ArcView
  • Forest Metrix software
  • Forest vegetation simulators
  • Forest yield software
  • Fountains Forestry TwoDog
  • Geographic information system GIS software
  • IBM Notes
  • Mapping software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • SMART
  • Trimble Cengea Software
  • Web browser software
  • Work scheduling software

    • life physical and social science

    industry stats

    SOC: 19-0000

    Total Employed: 1,146,110

    Average Annual Salary: $71,220