Start your career in Forestry, Wildlife and Conservation

Become a forester, forestry technician, forestry worker or game warden.

Career Paths in Forestry

If you love the outdoors and care about the environment, a career in forestry could bring you great satisfaction. People who train to be foresters are qualified to apply for a broad range of positions, all of which require specialized knowledge and expertise. Aspiring foresters will acquire the in-depth understanding they need through a combination of higher education and practical work experiences.

What is Forestry and What Do Foresters Do?

Forestry is the science of forest management and preservation. People who find employment in forestry careers will monitor the health of individual trees and entire forest ecosystems. Alone or in coordination with coworkers or scientists, they may be asked to develop comprehensive plans to conserve forest land and the resources it contains. They may also be asked to create restoration plans for forest ecosystems that have been damaged or poorly preserved. Foresters are often required to supervise logging, mining or recreational activities, to make sure they are done sustainably and don’t threaten the long-term health of the forests they are managing.

If you’re interested in studying this important conservation science, there are multiple career paths in forestry you can follow. Your choice of a particular specialty will likely depend on your personal interests and personality characteristics, along with your perception of where the best job opportunities lie.

Educational Requirements for Forestry Careers

You’ll need at least a bachelor’s of science degree to obtain an entry-level position in a forestry-related occupation. Universities may offer Bachelor of Science degrees in Forestry, Forestry and Natural Resources, Forest Resources and Conservation, Environmental Science with a forestry specialty, or dozens of similar variations.

In addition to bachelor’s degrees, internships are also advantageous for those seeking employment in forestry and conservation science. University forestry departments can help students find good opportunities, and faculty advisors often have connections with government agencies or private actors that may have internships available.

The United States Forest Service offers multiple internships for undergraduate forestry students, along with volunteer opportunities for those who want to gain still further experience in the areas of forest monitoring and stewardship.

Other advocacy or conservation-oriented organizations that contract interns and/or volunteers include:

Needless to say, internships that provide exposure to a specific career path in forestry can be especially helpful, if you’re thinking about specializing in that subfield or are interested in a particular type of job.

Many universities that offer undergraduate degrees in forestry also have graduate programs. While having a Bachelor of Science degree is the minimal qualification, it will undoubtedly boost your job prospects if you can obtain a master’s degree in a similar area. Many institutions do offer doctorates in forestry and conservation science (or other appropriate concentrations), and that could be an option if you would like to teach or someday assume an administrator’s position.

Job Prospects for Aspiring Foresters

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups forestry-related careers under the broader category of Conservation Scientists and Foresters.

In 2019, the median pay for men and women employed as conservation scientists or foresters was $62,140, with an average hourly wage of about $30. In 2018, there were approximately 32,900 people employed in the United States in forestry-related fields, and this number is expected to grow by about three percent between 2018 and 2028.

At the present time, great increases in the demand for forestry and conservation specialists aren’t anticipated. However, growing concern over climate change and its deleterious effects is shining a brighter spotlight on effective forest management.

Healthy forests can absorb and sequester enormous quantities of carbon, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and thereby directly counteracting the impact of excessive CO2 release through human activity. As concern over the impact of lost or degraded forest land grows, the demand for individuals trained in various aspects of forestry and forest management could expand more rapidly than expected.

Important Characteristics of a Forestry Professional

People who pursue careers in forestry usually have a great love for the outdoors. They appreciate nature’s beauty and enjoy the peace and solitude they find when they spend time in natural settings.

Foresters are passionate and committed environmentalists who understand the role that healthy ecosystems play in the health and welfare of humanity and all other forms of life. They feel honored and privileged to contribute to the conservation and preservation of vulnerable forest areas. In general, they don’t mind the hard work and physical challenges that forestry-related tasks and duties often require.

Forestry work can be mentally demanding as well. Forestry is an expansive science that at various times will test your knowledge in biology, chemistry, physics, geology and ecology. As a forester and conservation expert, you’ll be required to diagnose problems and develop solutions that require careful data collection and analysis, based on a sound understanding of important scientific principles.

While your work as a forester will involve much time spent outdoors, you will need to demonstrate good communication skills to proceed in your chosen profession. At various times, foresters may have to communicate with supervisors, administrators, government officials, business executives, coworkers, interns, volunteers or members of the general public, depending on the duties and requirements of their specific job.

Foresters possess specialized information that is important, useful and interesting. Forestry work is demanding but never boring, and if you want something that tests your limits while making a valuable contribution to society and the natural world, a forestry career could be an ideal choice. 

Popular Career Paths in the Forestry Profession

There are numerous career paths in forestry you can follow, depending on the specificity of your interests. People with a background in forestry may be hired by local, state and federal government agencies, nonprofit organizations, lumber companies and other timber industry firms, and consulting companies that specialize in natural resources-related issues.

Some of the most popular forestry careers include:

Forester

This is the traditional job title for general practitioners in the forestry field. Foresters take responsibility for the health of individual trees and woodlands ecosystems as a whole. They may be required to plant new trees, conserve or restore wildlife habitats, select trees for harvesting, monitor trees for disease or pest invasions or take action to protect forested areas from fires. Professional foresters oversee the activity of technicians, interns and volunteers, who will assist them on the forest management projects they initiate.

Most foresters will enter the field with either a bachelor’s degree or a bachelor’s degree plus a master’s. They usually supplement their studies with internships that prepare them to assume positions in the forest management sector, for either public or private employers.

Conservation and Resource Forester

People who choose this forestry career concentrate on the preservation or restoration of forest ecosystems. They may be employed by government agencies to monitor and protect public lands, or they may be hired by private contractors to assess the health of privately owned forest land used for logging or recreation.

In the course of their duties, conservation and resource foresters may be asked to develop comprehensive plans to protect wildlife habitats, reduce or eliminate soil erosion problems, address issues with invasive species or pests that attack trees or help timber companies observe the principles of a sustainable harvest. Their understanding of ecology and natural sciences should be extensive, which is why aspiring conservation and resource foresters often pursue post-graduate studies after finishing their undergraduate careers.

Forest Ranger

Many people who decide to major in forestry do so with the intention of becoming a forest ranger. Forest rangers are hired to patrol state and natural parks and forests, to make sure visitors stay safe and follow the rules. They must be available to answer questions and provide any required assistance to the public, while monitoring the health and welfare of plant and animal life in their domains.

An undergraduate degree in forestry will help prospective rangers establish a good baseline of understanding of forest ecosystems, which is essential for those whose jobs involve the care and protection of publicly accessible woodlands. To land a supervisory position in this subfield, you would likely need a graduate degree in forestry or natural resource conservation and management.

Forestry Science Technician

Through the use of selective breeding and advanced genetic technology, forestry science technicians working on public lands can help develop and grow trees that are healthier, hardier and more pest resistant. When working for private timber industry interests, they may strive to develop trees that grow faster and larger to produce greater yields. Trained technicians assist foresters who supervise this type of work, and to assume these positions they must have extensive knowledge of forestry science and its applications in the field.

A Bachelor of Science degree in forestry is a likely qualification for employment as a technician. Many technicians eventually seek more training to become conservation scientists or professional foresters, since pay levels for technicians are lower than the industry average.

Procurement Agent

Trained foresters can obtain employment with private lumber, paper or energy companies as procurement agents. Foresters in this line of work hire teams of loggers to harvest trees sustainably, and they may also oversee the creation of logging roads and other temporary facilities required by logging companies to complete their work. Foresters in these positions will also develop plans to restore forest habitats to their natural state once logging activities have finished.

Forestry careers with private employers can be relatively lucrative. Foresters employed by electric companies, lumber companies or the paper industry usually earn more than their counterparts working for government agencies. Bachelor’s degrees are a minimum requirement for such positions, but graduate studies will increase your chances of finding well-compensated employment as a procurement agent in the private sector.

Forest and Conservation Technicians

Under the supervision of foresters and conservation professionals, forest and conservation technicians will gather and analyze a diverse range of information related to forest ecosystem functioning and health. This may study soil and water quality, gather data on wildlife activities and populations, help create detailed maps and keep extensive records of logging or mining activities. They may perform various conservation-related tasks as well, such as planting trees or clearing underbrush to reduce the risk of forest fires.

The average salary for a forestry technician is about 60 percent of the industry average. Consequently, those who enter the field as technicians might be wise to pursue a four-year degree in forestry or conservation science, to improve their odds for career advancement in the future.

Urban Forester

Forestry is usually associated with the management of woodlands or timberlands in rural areas. But metropolitan areas also require the services of foresters, who are charged with caring for and maintaining public parks and forests, neighborhood or street trees and other natural areas within city limits. Urban foresters must monitor the health of trees in these environments and arrange for the removal or treatment of trees that have been damaged by storms, pests or disease.  

This type of work represents a more specialized career path in forestry, meaning the competition for jobs can be vigorous. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in urban forestry, a master’s degree in forestry or a related field like environmental science could boost your chances of a successful outcome.

Forest and Conservation Science Teacher

Teaching careers are a possibility for those who obtain advanced degrees in forestry or similar fields. Jobs can be found at the community college or university level, or at the high school level in some locations. Instructors in forestry and conservation science will lecture, create lesson plans, design research projects, grade student submissions and handle administrative duties required of those who hold teaching positions.

Compensation for forest and conservation science teachers at the secondary level is somewhat lower than the forestry industry average. But a teaching career at the post-secondary level will pay better than a conventional forestry career, although you may need a doctorate to qualify for a position as a full professor.

Finding Fulfillment in the Forestry Field

If you have a strong interest in studying forestry, and a sincere desire to apply the knowledge you acquire in real-life settings, a career in forestry could bring you many rewards.

Employment in the forestry professions can be difficult to obtain. But a combination of educational achievements, volunteer activities and internship experiences will maximize your chances of finding entry-level positions. If you demonstrate excellence and commitment on the job, opportunities for advancement should be available.