General Information About the Career
Foresters manage, develop, and protect forest lands and resources. Foresters work for the U.S. Forest Service and for state and local forest management agencies. They also work for private companies in the logging, timber, paper, and wood pulp industries. Some teach in colleges and graduate schools of forestry. Others conduct research for the Forest Service and other organizations. A few are self-employed as consultants. Towns and counties employ foresters to manage forests in their communities.
Most foresters perform duties related to the protection and improvement of forestlands. They supervise fire and insect control activities as well as the planting of ground cover to prevent soil erosion. They design reforestation projects for lands damaged by fire, pests, and industrial uses. Foresters determine what trees should be harvested and direct the removal of diseased or damaged trees or those that block the growth of surrounding trees.
Foresters manage lands designated for recreation and commercial use, such as logging. Local governments or private companies may preserve watershed lands as a source of water supply. Other commercial uses include improving forests to protect surrounding areas from flood or soil erosion. Land designated for recreational use is used for public outdoor recreation or as a wildlife refuge. Some public lands are designated for multiple-use management. Parts of these lands may be used for recreation, and other parts are leased to commercial companies.
Jobs Functions
Forest Rangers. Forest rangers work for state agencies or the Forest Service and supervise the use of public lands. They supervise the leasing of lands, the development of facilities, and the sale of timber crops. Forest rangers generally supervise a team of assistant rangers, forestry technicians, and other workers.
Smoke Jumper. Specially trained forest rangers called Smoke Jumpers are trained to parachute into forest fires to help fight the blaze.
Service Foresters. These foresters typically work for the state government performing extension duties, such as helping farmers and other forest owners manage their land. Service foresters may also work with owners and operators of lumber mills and wood processing plants, helping them to improve and modernize methods. Foresters working for private companies or groups of companies are mainly interested in improving the production of timber crops and may employ foresters to visit tree farms and make recommendations for improving timber crops.
Forest Products Technician. Forest Products Technicians grade and inspect the logs as well as the lumber and veneer ready to be shipped to users. They also supervise production operations, such as the cutting and seasoning, or drying of wood. Other technicians may work in sales, marketing, distribution or advertising as providing technical information to industrial users that wood or veneer from a mill.
Examples of Job Tiles
Forester Forest Ranger
Service Forester Smoke Jumper
Inspector Conservationist
Range Manager Conservation Scientist
Forest Products Technologist Forestry Technician
Skills
Interest in the Environment
Problem-solving Ability
Aptitude for Science and Mathematics
Organizational Skills
Communication Skills
Ability to Work Independently or within a Team
Enjoy Working in the Outdoors
Salary
The average salary for most Agronomists is $23,776 - $71,572. Please view the TAMU Career Center's Salary Survey for the most recent survey results for TAMU graduates that majored in Forestry.
Example of Employers/Who Hires My Major
Federal, State and Local Governments
Private industry
Wholesale and distribution companies
Research and testing firms
Colleges and Universities
Self-employment/Consulting
Click here to learn who recruited Forestry majors and for what positions these graduates were hired.
Professional Associations
Student Organizations
Campus Recruiting Reports for:
