Foresters in Washington
Thinking about a career as a Foresters in Washington? Below are the key facts. 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 Washington?
For foresters working in Washington, wages run about $74,360 per year (or about $35.75/hour).Pay can range from $56,890 at the 10th percentile to $128,030 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $56,890 | $27.35 |
| 25th percentile | $63,960 | $30.75 |
| Median (50th) | $74,360 | $35.75 |
| 75th percentile | $97,740 | $46.99 |
| 90th percentile | $128,030 | $61.55 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Washington compared to the national average — is 4.41, 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), below the Washington median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 88,727 foresters across the United States. In Washington alone, about 980 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 140 foresters.
Top Washington Metros for Foresters
The metro areas below employ the most foresters in Washington.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 90 | $67,370 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 90 | $74,360 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 50 | $79,760 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 40 | $69,060 |
Top States for Foresters Employment
View the states that employ 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
The most important foresters skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core 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
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?
Programs that train for this career include:
- 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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