How to Become a Forester
Manage forest land for timber, wildlife, recreation and long-term health, including fire risk. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $76,400 per year and slower than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$76,400/yr
Middle half
$62,710 to $91,640
Job growth
Slower than average
Openings / yr
1,100
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Forest Management
- Fieldwork
- GIS
- Planning
Related careers
- Geologist$101,920 median
- Farmer / Agricultural Manager$89,900 median
- Environmental Scientist$82,220 median
- Soil / Plant Scientist$78,850 median
- Forest / Conservation Technician$54,560 median
- Agricultural Technician$49,630 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Forester make?
The median pay for a Forester is $76,400 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $62,710 and $91,640 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Forester?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Forestry and Environmental Science.
Is Forester a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is slower than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 1,100 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Forester use most?
Common skills for this role are Forest Management, Fieldwork, GIS, and Planning.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).