Occupation Summary

Foresters

O*NET 19-1032.00

Description:

Manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. May inventory the type, amount, and location of standing timber, appraise the timber's worth, negotiate the purchase, and draw up contracts for procurement. May determine how to conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality, and soil stability, and how best to comply with environmental regulations. May devise plans for planting and growing new trees, monitor trees for healthy growth, and determine optimal harvesting schedules.

Annual Wages:
$71,240.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 36.14%.
Education Level:
Bachelor's Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry, Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM)

  1. Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
  2. Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
  3. Supervise activities of other forestry workers.
  4. Choose and prepare sites for new trees, using controlled burning, bulldozers, or herbicides to clear weeds, brush, and logging debris.
  5. Plan and supervise forestry projects, such as determining the type, number and placement of trees to be planted, managing tree nurseries, thinning forest and monitoring growth of new seedlings.
  6. Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
  7. Direct, and participate in, forest fire suppression.
  8. Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.
  9. Analyze effect of forest conditions on tree growth rates and tree species prevalence and the yield, duration, seed production, growth viability, and germination of different species.
  10. Monitor forest-cleared lands to ensure that they are reclaimed to their most suitable end use.
  11. Plan and implement projects for conservation of wildlife habitats and soil and water quality.
  12. Plan and direct forest surveys and related studies and prepare reports and recommendations.
  13. Perform inspections of forests or forest nurseries.
  14. Map forest area soils and vegetation to estimate the amount of standing timber and future value and growth.
  15. Conduct public educational programs on forest care and conservation.
  16. Procure timber from private landowners.
  17. Subcontract with loggers or pulpwood cutters for tree removal and to aid in road layout.
  18. Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.
  19. Monitor wildlife populations and assess the impacts of forest operations on population and habitats.
  20. Plan and direct construction and maintenance of recreation facilities, fire towers, trails, roads and bridges, ensuring that they comply with guidelines and regulations set for forested public lands.
  21. Contact local forest owners and gain permission to take inventory of the type, amount, and location of all standing timber on the property.
  22. Provide advice and recommendations, as a consultant on forestry issues, to private woodlot owners, firefighters, government agencies or to companies.
  23. Study different tree species' classification, life history, light and soil requirements, adaptation to new environmental conditions and resistance to disease and insects.
  24. Develop new techniques for wood or residue use.
  25. Develop techniques for measuring and identifying trees.

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National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Foresters employed Annual Growth Rate
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 10.1 1.68
Logging 5.1 -1.81
Electric power generation, transmission and distribution 4.4 0.00
Sawmills and wood preservation 4.1 0.00
Colleges, universities, and professional schools 3.5 0.00
Social advocacy organizations 2.6 0.00


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $34.25
2024 National average hourly wage $35.90
2022 National employment 11,300
2022 Texas employment 451
Texas projected employment by 2032 614
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 58




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
78.00%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
76.00%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
75.60%
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
74.40%
Law and Government
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
68.60%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
66.60%
Geography
Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
65.80%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
65.40%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
62.20%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
60.20%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
80.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
77.60%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
77.60%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
77.60%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
77.60%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
75.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
75.00%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
75.00%
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
72.40%
Systems Evaluation
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
72.40%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
80.00%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
77.60%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
77.60%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
77.60%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
77.60%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
77.60%
Category Flexibility
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
77.60%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
75.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
75.00%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
72.40%


  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    -- Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Documenting/Recording Information
    -- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    -- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Other Activities


  • Independence
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
  • Working Conditions
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.



Tools

All terrain vehicles tracked or wheeled: All-terrain vehicles ATV; Four wheel drive 4WD vehicles;

Articulating boom lift: Bucket trucks;

Axes: Forestry axes;

Chain saw: Chainsaws;

Clinometers: Digital clinometers;

Direction finding compasses: Navigational compasses;

Front end loaders: Multipurpose front end loaders;

Garden chainsaw: Power pruners;

Global positioning system GPS receiver: Global positioning system GPS devices;

High branch shears: Pole pruners;

Laser printers: Computer laser printers;

Lopper: Power loppers;

Measuring rods: Tree scale sticks;

Measuring tapes: Steel measuring tapes;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Portable data input terminals: Handheld dataloggers;

Power chippers: Brush chippers;

Power grinders: Stump grinders;

Saws: Hand saws;

Scanners: Computer data input scanners;

Secateurs or pruning shears: Hand pruners;

Skid steer loaders: Multipurpose skid steer loaders;

Sprayers: Backpack sprayers; Weed sprayers;

Tablet computers: Tablet computers;

Tape measures: Hip chains;


Technology

Analytical or scientific software: Forest vegetation simulators; Forest yield software;

Calendar and scheduling software: Work scheduling software;

Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access; SMART service management and route tracking software;

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook; IBM Notes;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Trimble CENGEA;

Geographic information system: Geographic information system GIS software; Geographic information system GIS systems; ESRI ArcGIS software; ESRI ArcView;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Inventory management software: Forest Metrix; Fountains Forestry TwoDog;

Map creation software: Mapping software;

Mobile location based services software: Global positioning system GPS software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Web platform development software: Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Foresters include:
  • 11-9199.11 Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
  • 19-1031.00 Conservation Scientists
  • 19-2041.02 Environmental Restoration Planners
  • 19-2041.00 Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
  • 19-4071.00 Forest and Conservation Technicians
  • 45-4011.00 Forest and Conservation Workers
  • 33-2022.00 Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
  • 19-2041.03 Industrial Ecologists
  • 19-1031.02 Range Managers
  • 19-1013.00 Soil and Plant Scientists


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about conservation scientists and foresters, including schools offering education in forestry, visit: Society of American Foresters (SAF)
  • For information about careers in forestry, particularly conservation forestry and land management, visit: Forest Stewards Guild
  • Society for Range Management (SRM)
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • CareerOneStop

  • For career videos on conservation scientists and foresters, visit: Conservation scientists
  • Foresters
  • Conservation Scientists
  • Foresters
  • Park Naturalists
  • Range Managers

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.