Forestry Jobs in the United States

Forestry Jobs Overview

Are you a nature lover, who isn’t afraid to get your hands dirty and spend a lot of time outdoors? Are you passionate about biodiversity and want to have an active role in its preservation? One of the many forestry jobs available could be your ideal career path.

A job in forestry is good for the planet and for you. Spending time being active in nature positively affects your mental and physical health. What more could you ask for?

Forestry jobs take care of woodlands and parks alongside a variety of staff whose responsibilities include:

• planting trees
• clearing debris
• tracking tree health
• collecting and studying air, soil, water, and plants
• managing forestry budgets

More precisely, here are the most common forestry jobs you could choose:

1. Forester: manages the overall planning development and maintenance of forests, including timber harvesting, reforestation, and conservation efforts.
2. Forest ranger: monitors and protects forested areas, enforcing regulations, preventing wildfires, and educating people on forest conservation.
3. Arborist: specializes in the care and maintenance of trees, including pruning tree removal and tree health assessments.
4. Silviculturist: focuses on the scientific and sustainable management of forests, implementing practices to enhance forest growth and health.
5. Forest technician: assists foresters in collecting data, conducting surveys, and performing technical tasks related to forest management.
6. Forest ecologist: studies the relationship between organisms and forest ecosystems. They also examine ecological patterns and processes to inform conservation efforts.
7. Forest engineer: applies engineering principles to forest management, designing forest roads, bridges, and other infrastructure while considering the environmental impact.
8. Wildlife biologist: studies wildlife populations within forested areas, assessing habitat quality, monitoring species populations, and developing conservation strategies.
9. Forest researcher: conducts scientific research on forests, investigating forest ecology, biodiversity, climate change impact and forest management practices.
10. Forest inventory specialist: prepares inventories to assess the quantity, quality, and distribution of timber resources. Plus, they provide valuable data for forest management and timber harvesting.

Salaries for Forestry Jobs

Forestry workers are found in several roles with different responsibilities and compensations. Below are some average salaries for popular forestry jobs:

• forester: $33,061 to $65,803 per year
• conservation technician: $13.66 to $50.86 per hour ($28,412 to $105,788 per year)
• park ranger: $26,985 to $68,942 per year
• logging worker: $13.16 to $25.26 per hour ($27,372 to $52,540 per year)
• environmental scientist: $40,602 to $82,144 per year

However, based on the industry you work for and your location, you could be making more or less than that. For example, here are the top-paying industries for people who have a job in forestry:

• electric power generation, transmission, and distribution: $53,570 annual mean wage
• management, scientific, and technical consulting services: $43,510 annual mean wage
• museums, historical sites, and similar institutions: $43,440 annual mean wage
• social advocacy organizations: $39,740 annual mean wage

You’ll earn the most working in forestry jobs in the following locations:

• Idaho: $50,040 annual mean wage
• Arizona: $48,220 annual mean wage
• Pennsylvania: $48,180 annual mean wage
• Illinois: $47,190 annual mean wage
• Washington: $44,920 annual mean wage

Remember that these are just average figures. So, if you receive an offer, also keep in mind that your wage should represent your education and experience as well.

Do you want more precise data about your area or a different job in forestry? Just head to Monster’s Salary Calculator, enter your role and city, and voilà! You’ll find the estimated salary for that role, in which locations it’s in the highest demand, and what career steps you could take from there.

How to Find the Best Forestry Jobs

Not sure how to filter forestry jobs to find the right opportunities for you? You first need to understand what exactly you’re looking for. Here is our recipe for success:

1. Identify your interests and goals. Determine what specific areas of forestry you’d like to focus on. Then reflect on what you have access to with your current education and training. Once you know if you’d like to work in forest management, wildlife, consulting, or something else, you’ll be able to filter out jobs more efficiently.
2. Track down reputable companies and organizations. To find suitable employers, research their mission and values and compare them to yours. Look into their vision, objectives, environmental practices, and commitment to sustainability.
3. Screen job ads carefully. Read job descriptions with attention, particularly the responsibilities and qualifications required. Increase your chances of selection by looking for positions that match your skills and experience. However, don’t be afraid to also consider roles that would mean growing.
4. Gather insights on work cultures. Read previous employees’ reviews and network with other professionals. In this way, you'll be able to understand what kind of work-life balance and environment to expect at these companies.

How to Apply to Forestry Jobs

Once you’ve found job openings in line with what you’re looking for, it’s time to work on your applications. Here are the best practices to showcase your skills and experiences:

Update Your Resume for a Job in Forestry

Your resume is like a business card. It must provide the necessary information in a simple and direct way to get past applicant tracking systems (ATS) and human recruiters. Not sure how to get started? Download one of our free resume templates. You’ll have a clear layout with all the essential sections to fill in.

To write an effective resume, it’s crucial to customize it for every opening you’re targeting. This means including only the experiences and skills that match the role you’re applying for. Plus, using the same keywords to describe such skills. For instance, some of the most sought-after in job openings are:

• GIS, GPS and other forestry-related software used for data analysis and mapping
• knowledge of environmental regulations and conservation practices
• excellent communication skills
• critical thinking
• ability to work independently and as part of a team
• physical fitness and expertise in outdoor tasks
• problem-solving

Finally, make sure that your resume demonstrates what you achieved in your previous forestry jobs. Include powerful KPIs like the following:

• timber volume harvested
• reforestation success rate
• forest health and disease incidence
• operational cost per harvested volume

If you’re still unsure about your resume efficacy, don’t hesitate and get help from the experts at Monster’s Resume Writing Services.

Tips for Your Forestry Job Cover Letter

Depending on the role, to apply to a job in forestry you might have to submit a cover letter. This tool is useful to help you demonstrate enthusiasm for the opportunity and provide more details about your achievements and motivations.

Craft a persuasive cover letter by:

• Addressing the hiring manager by name. Avoid more general greetings whenever possible. Remember that calling to ask for the contact details of the hiring manager is always appropriate.
• Starting with a strong opening. In the first sentence of the letter, make clear what role you’re applying for and what general background you have that makes you a perfect fit.
• Tailoring the cover letter for each application. You can do this by mentioning the organization’s values and mission or something they do that particularly interests you.
• Highlighting your forestry-related qualifications. Point out your experience, skills and achievements by referencing the job requirements directly.
• Showcasing your passion for the field. Explain why you’re passionate about forestry and conservation. Be personable in doing so.

Finally, get ready to harvest the best forestry jobs. Upload your resume and cover letter to your Monster free candidate account. Becoming a member, you’ll have access to thousands of roles and companies will be able to contact you directly.

How to Follow Up with an Employer

After submitting your application for a job in forestry, following up with the employer is a good idea to show your interest in the position. Here’s how to do it:

• Timing: Wait at least one week after applying before getting in touch. This will leave the hiring manager enough time to screen all the candidates.
• Contact details: A follow-up email is more than enough at this stage. Be sure to address the hiring manager by name. If you can’t find their contact details in the job opening, give the company a call.
• Strong opening: Catch the recruiter’s attention from the first sentence. Clarify what job in forestry you applied for, your continued interest in the opportunity and your broad qualifications.
• Showcase your value: In the body of the letter, briefly highlight your past experiences and your skills for the role.
• Closing: Politely inquire about the status of your application, offer to provide more information, and thank them for their time.

Interviewing Tips for Forestry Jobs

Working on your interview preparation is crucial to make the right impression on recruiters and hiring managers. No matter which role you’re trying to secure, take time to practice your answers. In the forestry industry you’ll likely spend a lot of time outdoors, in every weather condition and often alone. So, expect interview questions regarding your motivations and attitude. Three examples include:

• Why did you pick this career?
• Why do you want this particular job?
• How do you handle challenging weather conditions and physically demanding tasks?

Quickly review your technical knowledge, as well. It’s not uncommon for hiring managers to ask you to explain how you perform certain tasks or procedures. For example:

• What are the main methods used for tree species identification in the field?
• Describe the steps involved in conducting a forest health assessment.
• What are the primary techniques used in forest soil analysis?

Finally, don’t get caught off guard by behavioral questions. Learn how to tackle them and prove to recruiters that you are the right candidate for the job using the STAR method.

What to Do When You Get an Offer

You’ve got the job in forestry you wanted, well done! We understand that the excitement of the moment can be overwhelming, so we're here to guide you through the process.

The following are crucial factors to consider before deciding if you’re going to accept or decline the job offer:

• Job responsibilitiesandconditions. Make sure the offer clearly spells out what the job entails and that it matches what you discussed during the interview to avoid any surprises. Depending on the role, understand what the balance between fieldwork and office work would be.
• Salary and benefits. Consider the entire compensation package. Assess if the salary is competitive, along with the health benefits, retirement plan and PTO. If you’re not satisfied, consider negotiating the terms.
• Location. The location of the job offer might be different from the one you picked. In that case, evaluate how that would affect your personal commitments and lifestyle.
• Work-life balance and career progression. Evaluate the company’s view on work-life balance and which opportunities to progress they offer.

Forestry Job Career Paths

Got experience in forestry jobs? You could pursue many career paths within or outside the forestry industry such as:

• Forest management. Looking to grow your responsibilities in the field? Check out forest manager, forest supervisor or forest operation manager jobs. With proper training, you could move up into management of forests, planning harvests, inventory assessments, or environmental regulation compliance.
• Conservation and environmental organizations. What about working for environmental nonprofits or similar? Based on your preferences and skills, you could become a conservation officer, environmental educator, or other roles focusing on broader ecological and environmental issues.
• Wildlife management. A background in forestry is an excellent starting point for many opportunities in wildlife management and conservation. You could become a wildlife conservation officer or manager and focus on maintaining balanced ecosystems and protecting wildlife habitats.
• Consulting. Once you’re well experienced, you could establish your own consulting business. You could provide services like forest management planning, timber harvesting, reforestation projects or more for private landowners, companies, or government agencies.
• Research. Interested in advancing your knowledge of the discipline and contributing to the development of environmental conservation? Your future could be in research or academia.

Similar Occupations

Find out all the other farming jobs on Monster. The following are some of the most popular options:

• lumberjack jobs
• harvester jobs
• agriculture jobs