How to hire a forester

How to hire a forester, step by step

Here's a step-by-step forester hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a forester job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new forester
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a forester do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the forester you need to hire. Certain forester roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a forester to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a forester that fits the bill.

   This list presents forester salaries for various positions.

   Type of Forester	Description	Hourly rate
   Forester	Conservation scientists and foresters manage the overall land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources.	$12-47
   Environmental Technician	An environmental technician is responsible for identifying, evaluating, preventing, and controlling contamination of the environment. They study how it affects human health with the supervision of environmental engineers and environmental scientists... Show more	$14-24
   Environmental Service Technician	An environmental service technician is an employee who works in a hospital or healthcare facility to maintain cleanliness and a healthy environment within the premises. Environmental service technicians are involved in traditional janitorial tasks as well as proper handling and disposal of biological waste... Show more	$12-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Natural Resources
   • Patrol
   • Management Practices
   • Vegetation Management
   • Management Plans
   • Inspection Results
   • GIS
   • Harvest
   • Data Collection
   • Contract Compliance
   • ISA
   • Growth Rates
   • Customer Service
   • Utility Lines

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage 8 staff members at the HQ and up to 50 off-site.
   • Manage landowner survey program to meet SFI standards.
   • Manage and implement the daily operations for developing and expanding dispersal habitat for the company HCP.
   • Manage the rifle range, pistol range and physical fitness tests, combat fitness tests and swim qualifications.
   • Manage and distribute COMSEC cryptographic material for communications security devices on a monthly basis.
   • Manage inventory and treatment data as well as special projects for privately-own timberland using advance GIS and database software.

   More forester duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the forester job description is a good way to get more applicants. A forester salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a forester in Alabama may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level forester. Additionally, a forester with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average forester salary

   $50,590yearly

   $24.32 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level forester salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 26, 2025

   Average forester salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$57,818	$28
   2	Massachusetts	$56,939	$27
   3	Oregon	$55,317	$27
   4	California	$54,537	$26
   5	Pennsylvania	$53,174	$26
   6	Virginia	$51,292	$25
   7	Texas	$47,261	$23
   8	New Mexico	$45,581	$22
   9	Florida	$45,170	$22
   10	Hawaii	$44,852	$22
   11	Washington	$44,343	$21
   12	Tennessee	$40,605	$20
   13	North Carolina	$40,401	$19
   14	Colorado	$40,384	$19
   15	Georgia	$37,244	$18
   16	Oklahoma	$37,050	$18
   17	Alabama	$36,977	$18
   18	Arkansas	$36,878	$18

   Average forester salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Sierra Pacific Industries	$97,817	$47.03	10
   2	Portland General Electric	$92,752	$44.59
   3	Northwell Health	$87,564	$42.10
   4	Salt River Project	$83,320	$40.06
   5	Koch Industries	$79,710	$38.32
   6	Forest Manufacturing Co	$75,473	$36.29
   7	Student Conservation Association	$72,978	$35.09	1
   8	Regions Bank	$70,399	$33.85
   9	International Society of Arboriculture	$68,432	$32.90
   10	University of Nebraska at Omaha	$61,857	$29.74	2
   11	Bureau of Land Management	$61,208	$29.43
   12	The Nature Conservancy	$57,822	$27.80
   13	Washington State University	$56,597	$27.21
   14	City of Detroit	$56,547	$27.19
   15	Resource Management Service	$53,280	$25.62
   16	Wisconsin	$50,995	$24.52
   17	CN Utility Consulting	$50,995	$24.52
   18	Pennsylvania State Treasurer	$50,995	$24.52	2
   19	The Davey Tree Expert Company	$50,888	$24.47	67
   20	Brinker International	$50,475	$24.27

4. Writing a forester job description

   A job description for a forester role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a forester job description:

   Forester job description example

   We empower the best people to help sustain our world. 100% employee-owned. Independence guaranteed.
   
   Company:
   ACRT, Inc.
   
   ACRT is currently seeking energetic experienced professionals who enjoy working outdoors. Our City Forester position is ideal for professionals with an educational background in forestry, horticulture, arboriculture, environmental studies, conservation or related disciplines and with experience in these fields and line of work. This position is 32 hours a week.
   
   Duties:
   Responds to requests for shade tree services from the public and makes field inspections regarding the same.Organizes and prioritizes work by type, geographics, season etc. and submits to the superintendent of public works.Performs grading inspections as they relate to the preservation or destruction of trees on private land.Performs tree removal inspections on private property and enforces Tree Preservation Ordinance Chapter 11.Assists Public Works, Zoning, Health and the Police Officials in the enforcement of the Sidewalk Ordinance, Visibility Ordnance, Dead and dying trees, obnoxious growth or hazards.Conducts an annual hazardous tree survey of all Township trees in the Township right-of-way, public property and parks.Prepares tree removal, tree pruning, tree planning and other bid specifications and quotations as required and assists the Superintendent of Public Works in preparing fact sheets, resolutions, certificates of funding, purchase orders, etc. regarding the same..Prepares a Community Forestry Management Plan every 5 years and facilitates its implantation..Applies for applicable tree related grants.Prepares and annual accomplishment report and submits to State.Prepares annual Tree City, USA application Organizes and facilitates annual Arbor Day Celebration in conjunction with the Shade Tree Advisory Board.Attends all Shade Tree Advisory Board meetings.Oversees Township Beautification League and Garden Club projects on Township Property and right-of-way.Reviews Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment Plans for conformance with landscape zoning.Monitors all line clearance pruning within Township right-of-way.Maintains and revises Township Street Tree inventory..
   Minimum Requirements:
   Two-year forestry degree or equivalent OR high school diploma plus two years of UVM experience6 months Vegetation management experience preferred Competent computer skills including Microsoft Office SuiteExperience working with GIS integrated data collection software/hardware preferred but not required Candidate must be self-motivated, organized, production oriented Candidate must be comfortable working in an independent environment and managing a geographical area for all vegetation related activities Candidate must be able to work with stakeholders, residents and line clearance vendors and have excellent interpersonal skills Must demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills Multi-tasking and strong time management skills required Ability to work in varied terrain and inclement weather with flexible schedules (available nights and weekends as needed) Valid driver's license required.Registered Forester preferred.
   
   Additional Information:
   MedicalDentalVisionSick time Company vehicle/fuel card for work-related and commuting purposes Boot allowance program ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) with a great vesting schedule Pre-employment drug screening and background check required
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
   
   The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find foresters for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your forester job on Zippia to find and recruit forester candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit foresters, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new forester

   Once you have selected a candidate for the forester position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new forester first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a forester?