Agriculture, Landscaping & Animal Care career

Forester

Also called: Forest Manager · Procurement Forester · Urban Forester · Consulting Forester

What foresters do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
What does a forester do?

Foresters manage overall land use of forested lands, plan timber harvests, protect forests from fire and disease and plan reforestation. The median pay is $76,400 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 4-year degree, and employment is projected to grow +2.2% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

  • Median pay
    $76,400
    $36.73/hour · May 2025
  • Job growth
    +2.2%
    2025–35, slower than average
  • Openings per year
    900
    Average, 2025–35
  • Typical entry education
    Bachelor's degree
    BLS classification
  • Time to train
    4-year degree
    Typical program length
  • U.S. jobs
    13,200
    Employment, 2025

What foresters do

Foresters care for forests. They inventory trees, write management plans, plan timber sales, oversee harvests and planting, manage wildfire risk and work with landowners, agencies and timber companies.

A bachelor’s degree in forestry is required. BLS projects about average growth.

Typical duties

  • Inventory forests
  • Write management plans
  • Plan timber sales
  • Oversee harvests
  • Plan reforestation
  • Manage fire risk
  • Work with landowners

Work environment and schedule

Foresters work outdoors in forests and in offices.

Schedule: Full time, with fire season duties in some regions.

A day in the life

  1. Drive to a timber stand.
  2. Cruise timber.
  3. Mark trees for harvest.
  4. Meet a landowner.

See a full day in the life of a forester →

Forester salary

Half of foresters earned more than $76,400 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $50,790 for the lowest 10% to $109,700 for the top 10%.

Full forester pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a forester

  1. Earn a forestry degree
  2. Do summer field jobs
  3. Get hired
  4. Earn SAF certification
  5. Advance

A bachelor’s degree in forestry or a related field is required.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a forester →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

  • Timber cruising
  • Forest management
  • GIS
  • Silviculture
  • Fire management

People skills

  • Independence
  • Communication
  • Problem-solving
  • Physical fitness

All forester skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Work outdoors
  • Conservation impact
  • Varied work
  • Public and private jobs

Cons

  • Remote areas
  • Weather and terrain
  • Fire season stress
  • Modest pay

Certifications and licenses

  • SAF Certified Forester: Society of American Foresters.
  • State forester license: Required in some states.
  • Wildland fire qualifications: Red card.
  • Prescribed fire training: Helpful.

Career path

  1. Forestry Technician: Entry.
  2. Forester: Manage.
  3. Senior Forester: Lead.
  4. District Forester: Lead region.

Learn the job before day one

Our Forester training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as cruise a timber stand and write a forest management plan, safety and how to land your first job.

View Forester trainingIs this career right for me?

Arborist

Climb, prune and care for trees to keep them healthy and safe.

  • $50,960
  • 1–3 months to start

Compare: Forester vs. Forestry Worker · Forester vs. Forestry Professor · Forester vs. Arborist · Forester vs. Logging Equipment Operator

Forester FAQ

Do foresters need a degree?

Yes, usually in forestry.

Do foresters fight fires?

Many have wildland fire duties.

Is the job growing?

BLS projects about average growth.

How much does a forester make?

The median annual wage for foresters was $76,400 ($36.73 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $50,790 and the highest 10% earned more than $109,700.

How long does it take to become a forester?

Most people need about 4-year degree of training. A bachelor’s degree in forestry or a related field is required.

Do you need a degree to be a forester?

Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.

More forester questions →

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

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