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Job outlook for forestry aides in the United States
Are forestry aide jobs in demand?
Forestry aide job and salary trends over time
Forestry aide jobs over time
Forestry aide job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 155 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 154 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 158 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,136 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,149 | 0.00% |
Average forestry aide salary over time
Forestry aide salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,407 | $15.58 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | $32,267 | $15.51 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $31,270 | $15.03 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $30,387 | $14.61 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | $29,907 | $14.38 | +0.4% |
Forestry aide jobs by state
Most common states for forestry aides
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 416 | 40% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 152 | 26% |
| 3 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 410 | 24% |
| 4 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 587 | 14% |
| 5 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 786 | 12% |
| 6 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 244 | 12% |
| 7 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 95 | 11% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 544 | 10% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 304 | 10% |
| 10 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 301 | 10% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 189 | 10% |
| 12 | Alaska | 739,795 | 66 | 9% |
| 13 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 803 | 8% |
| 14 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 465 | 8% |
| 15 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 110 | 8% |
| 16 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 60 | 8% |
| 17 | Vermont | 623,657 | 47 | 8% |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 950 | 7% |
| 19 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 599 | 7% |
| 20 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 471 | 7% |
Forestry Aide job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of forestry aide experts
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Pennsylvania State University
Feather River College
The Forest Stewards Guild
Paul Doruska
Professor of Forest Measurements & Forestry Discipline CoordinatorUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
College of Natural Resources
What hard/technical skills are most important for Forestry Aides?
Paul Doruska: Geographic Information Systems, forest inventory, finance, silviculture, developing and defending sound management plans in one's chosen area of forestry (forest management, recreation, urban and community forestry, or Ecosystem Restoration and Management are the areas here at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point)
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Forestry Aide job market given the pandemic?
Charles Ruffner Ph.D.: In natural resource management, there is still a huge need to be in the field managing resources. However, much of our duties entail meeting with the public, granting, agencies, etc. so thus all people should be capable of working remotely on various platforms.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Forestry Aides?
Charles Ruffner Ph.D.: ANY certification for wildland fire fighting, prescribed burn use, soil conservation, etc are all valuable certs to have in one's toolbox. Others include chainsaw use, small engine maintenance like leaf blowers and UTV's .
What skills stand out on Forestry Aide resumes?
Ellen Rom: For land management positions, GIS skills are important as, of course, is plant identification. Evidence of leadership, teamwork, problem solving, and good communication skills are important regardless of field of interest.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Forestry Aides to find work opportunities?
Ellen Rom: Where there are forested landscapes (or simply trees in urban areas), there are opportunities for forestry graduates. We continue to receive job announcements from areas across the country.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Forestry Aides to find work opportunities?
Bridget Tracy: I live in the Sierra Nevada and find that there are lots of work opportunities in this region. Many employers send me info about potential jobs for students. I don't hear about as many in other regions, but I imagine that similar opportunities exist in all the regions where we have forests.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Forestry Aides to find work opportunities?
Colleen Robinson: As for good places to find work opportunities, I'd say students should subscribe to e-newsletters with organizations they believe in, such as Forest Stewards Guild, and also pay attention to who is showing up at job fairs, etc with internship opportunities when they are still in school and follow up with them after graduation too. So many places offer job posts with a collection of opportunities to learn about. It somewhat depends on if they are interested in NGOs, government agency work, industry, etc. too. As far as geography, I think forestry is everywhere, in one sense or another. Forestry in New Mexico looks different than it does in upstate New York, but its still forestry.