by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Forest Resources Production & Management involves the study of Forest Resources Production And Management. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Forestry Principles To The Production, Harvesting, And Processing Of Forest Resources And That Prepares Individuals To Perform Associated Technical And Managerial Functions. Includes Instruction In Forest Production And Utilization, Industrial Forestry, Agroforestry, Transplantation, Timber Harvesting, Selection And Identification Of Trees, Processing Technologies And Systems, Equipment Operations And Maintenance, And Related Management Skills. Continue reading for the important information every forest resources production & management major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering forest resources production & management programs.
Nationwide, forest resources production & management is a popular field of study, with 48 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Forest Resources Production & Management Schools ranking analyzes these 5 schools to determine the best overall colleges for forest resources production & management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of forest resources production & management programs later in this article.
Coursework for Forest Resources Production & Management develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations forest resources production & management graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a forest resources production & management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a forest resources production & management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several forest resources production & management 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 6 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 9 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 23 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 10 |
People currently working in careers related to forest resources production & management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 44.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 15.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.2% |
| Master’s degree | 10.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.4% |
| Some college courses | 1.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in forest resources production & management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in forest resources production & management prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to forest resources production & management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to forest resources production & management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 497,622 | 4.3% |
| Foresters | 93,289 | 5.1% |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | 73,073 | 0.5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of forest resources production & management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 forest resources production & management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers forest resources production & management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Foresters | $93,406 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $50,097 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
With 5 different forest resources production & management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased forest resources production & management school rankings to help you.
Those considering forest resources production & management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Forestry, General | 1,181 |
| Forest Sciences and Biology | 393 |
| Forest Technology/Technician | 327 |
| Forest Management/Forest Resources Management | 252 |
| Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology/Technician | 95 |
| Urban Forestry | 89 |
| Forestry, Other | 75 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
