Foresters in Virginia
Considering working as a Foresters in Virginia? Here’s what you need to know. 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.
What do Foresters Make in Virginia?
The foresters working in Virginia, the typical annual salary is $69,250 per year (or roughly $33.29/hour).Annual wages span from $46,510 at the 10th percentile to $99,600 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,510 | $22.36 |
| 25th percentile | $57,550 | $27.67 |
| Median (50th) | $69,250 | $33.29 |
| 75th percentile | $85,530 | $41.12 |
| 90th percentile | $99,600 | $47.88 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Virginia relative to the national average — is 1.38, suggesting that foresters are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, foresters earn a median of $93,406 per year ($44.91/hour), lower than the Virginia median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 88,727 foresters across the United States. In Virginia alone, around 350 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 140 foresters.
Top Virginia Metros for Foresters
These are the Virginia metros with the most foresters in Virginia.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 60 | $68,370 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 40 | $63,130 |
Top States for Foresters Employment
The table below shows the states where the most foresters work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Washington | 980 |
| California | 830 |
| Oregon | 670 |
| Wisconsin | 570 |
| Florida | 540 |
| Virginia | 350 |
| Michigan | 320 |
| Alabama | 300 |
| Idaho | 290 |
| New York | 280 |
| Pennsylvania | 270 |
| Massachusetts | 270 |
| Montana | 260 |
| Georgia | 240 |
| North Carolina | 240 |
| Texas | 200 |
| Minnesota | 200 |
| Colorado | 180 |
| Illinois | 170 |
| Ohio | 150 |
Highest-Paying States for Foresters
These states pay the most for foresters.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $98,870 |
| Alaska | $85,550 |
| Iowa | $80,590 |
| Maryland | $79,890 |
| Louisiana | $79,580 |
| New Hampshire | $79,230 |
| Connecticut | $78,610 |
| Michigan | $78,040 |
| Oregon | $77,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,150 |
Skills
Top foresters skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for foresters, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, foresters typically:
- Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
- Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
- Plan and implement projects for conservation of wildlife habitats and soil and water quality.
- Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
- Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.
- Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.
- Perform inspections of forests or forest nurseries.
- Map forest area soils and vegetation to estimate the amount of standing timber and future value and growth.
- Monitor forest-cleared lands to ensure that they are reclaimed to their most suitable end use.
- Develop techniques for measuring and identifying trees.
- Supervise activities of other forestry workers.
- Plan and direct forest surveys and related studies and prepare reports and recommendations.
Work Activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Performing Administrative Activities
- Scheduling Work and Activities
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Getting Information
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: ESRI ArcGIS software In-demand technologies: ESRI ArcGIS software
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Natural Resources Conservation
- Forestry
- Natural Resource Management
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Careers similar to foresters include:
- Water Resource Specialists
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
- Agricultural Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Soil and Plant Scientists
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
Also Known As
Area Forester, Consulting Utility Forester, Debris Monitor, District Forester, Environmental Protection Forester, Extension Forester, Fire Prevention Forester, Forest Ecologist, Forest Examiner, Forest Manager, Forest Pathologist, Forest Practices Field Coordinator, Forest Supervisor, Forester, Forestry Consultant.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 19-1032.00
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