by our College Data Analytics TeamForestry is a major that combines many aspects of environmental conservation and management. Professionals have the ability to analyze the growth and production of trees, determine the relationship between forests and wildlife, and work to prevent forest fires. If you love the outdoors and would like to use scientific and mathematical skills to problem solve, Forestry may be your major.
Within the general major of Forestry are specific concentrations that allow you to work in different fields caring for trees near dense populations or determining how to grow trees for wood products while maintaining a balance with living organisms in the area. Some specific Forestry concentrations include Forest Sciences and Biology, Forest Management/Forest Resources Management, Urban Forestry, Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology, Forest Resources Production and Management, and Forest Technology/Technician.
When deciding on a school, keep in mind employers often employ applicants who have degrees from programs that are accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF) and other organizations.
Studying Forestry covers Forestry. Continue reading for the important information every forestry major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering forestry programs.
Nationwide, forestry draws strong interest, with 2,460 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Forestry Schools ranking analyzes these 105 schools to determine the best overall colleges for forestry students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of forestry programs later in this article.
Programs in Forestry build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations forestry graduates commonly enter.
A career in forestry requires a strong background in science, math, and computer science. A successful forester loves the outdoors and enjoys problem solving. Since a lot of the job requires being outside, you should be passionate about the outdoors and in good physical shape. You must also have strong analytical and critical thinking skills so you can properly analyze the data collected and decide how to best approach issues concerning trees, their production and product collection, and their relationship to local populations.
Foresters spend much of their time outdoors, possibly in remote locations, depending on the type of work they are doing. Work is done in all types of weather conditions, can be physically demanding, and may require extended stays at campsites. However, there are career options that allow foresters to work in labs, or work with the public teaching others about conservation and how to properly interact with the natural environment. Most forester jobs follow an average work schedule with occasional long hours when working on projects.
Internships, summer jobs, or work with environmental agencies is the best way to gain experience in the Forestry field. These experiences give students basic knowledge and forestry skills.
Skills built by a forestry program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a forestry major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several forestry degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 62 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 357 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,143 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 786 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 108 |
People currently working in careers related to forestry tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 32.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.7% |
| Master’s degree | 13.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 9.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.4% |
| Some college courses | 1.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.7% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in forestry careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Many foresters are employed by state or federal governments, which oversee national parks, and work as forest and park rangers, managers or supervisors. Foresters are also employed by private firms to work as growers, assessors, and consultants or work in offices and labs performing experiments and working to create policies or solutions to forest related issues.
Currently the job market for foresters hasn't seen much of an increase, but the demand for foresters is expected to increase as the concern for environmental issues increases.
A degree in forestry prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to forestry.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to forestry.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 497,622 | 4.3% |
| Forest and Conservation Workers | 400,323 | 11.1% |
| Conservation Scientists | 208,826 | 13.4% |
| Range Managers | 175,572 | 1.3% |
| Foresters | 93,289 | 5.1% |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | 73,073 | 0.5% |
| Park Naturalists | 46,677 | 9.4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of forestry graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,042 |
| 4 years | $52,066 |
| 5 years | $60,484 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for forestry graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers forestry grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Foresters | $93,406 |
| Conservation Scientists | $81,436 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
| Park Naturalists | $76,516 |
| Range Managers | $59,935 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $50,097 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
| Forest and Conservation Workers | $22,542 |
With 105 different forestry programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased forestry school rankings to help you.
Those considering forestry, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 23,853 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | 3,090 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | 2,419 |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | 407 |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Other | 132 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
