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How to hire a forestry consultant

Forestry consultant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring forestry consultants in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a forestry consultant is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new forestry consultant to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a forestry consultant, step by step

To hire a forestry consultant, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a forestry consultant:

Here's a step-by-step forestry consultant hiring guide:

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

    Before you post your forestry consultant job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a forestry consultant for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a forestry consultant 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 forestry consultant that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of forestry consultants.

    Type of Forestry ConsultantDescriptionHourly rate
    Forestry ConsultantConservation scientists and foresters manage the overall land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources.$18-55
    ForesterForesters are individuals who practice forestry, art, science, and forest management. They are typically engaged in various activities that include the management of protected areas and ecological restoration... Show more$12-47
    ConsultantConsultants are individuals who were tapped by a company or an organization to work on a specific activity, depending on their field of expertise. They act as guides for the organization in undertaking projects that are related to their field... Show more$27-51
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Harvest
    • GIS
    • Timber Sale
    • GPS
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage several SDLC phases for enterprise systems used by state government agencies to perform environmental and environmental management.
    • Develop detailed vegetation survey for site selection of a scientific study of CO2 absorption in Loblolly pine.
    • Conduct micro-economic modeling/analysis, forest management planning and harvest scheduling analysis, growth & yield modeling, and timberland valuation/investment analysis.
    • Define and document a new application architecture which load client databases with properly format data using in-house develop Java ETL applications.
    • Support and document customer accounting teams from a system perspective and help to troubleshoot accounting relate issues.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your forestry consultant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A forestry consultant salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, forestry consultants' average salary in indiana is 46% less than in alaska.
    • Seniority. Entry-level forestry consultants earn 67% less than senior-level forestry consultants.
    • Certifications. A forestry consultant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a forestry consultant's salary.

    Average forestry consultant salary

    $66,819yearly

    $32.12 hourly rate

    Entry-level forestry consultant salary
    $38,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 23, 2025
  4. Writing a forestry consultant job description

    A forestry consultant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a forestry consultant job description:

    Forestry consultant job description example

    Job DescriptionSalary: $25 + per hour

    Forestry Consultant: Pest Control Advisor

    Welcome to MGE Professional Services, where opportunity abound! Whether we are responding to wildfires, working to improve public safety, or inventorying massive amounts of environmental data, MGE’s Forestry Consultants are leading the way! Forest management, land surveys and advice on pest control issues are just a few of the services a forest consultant may offer to our clients.

    Before we talk about the good stuff, like the industry’s best benefits package and hyper-competitive wages, you should prepare yourself for a company that is invested in you! From day one you’ll receive: thorough and comprehensive training that will leave you feeling confident, oversight and guidance from managers committed to your success, and merit-based advancement opportunities.


    The Position:

    Forestry consultants advise our clients on land management activities including right of way stewardship, forest practices, and integrated pest management activities. They need expertise in many areas of timber and forest management, including pest control and environmental impacts, including water quality. A bachelor's degrees in forestry or another relevant subject is preferred. Current Pest Control Advisor license required. Experience in the utility industry preferred.

    Forestry consultants work independently, to advise clients on the use of natural tree and land resources. With their expertise, they can consult on a wide range of land-use issues and serve our clients' best interests. They are available for a wide range of services relating to timber and forest management. They may consult on problems including land use, pest control, and they may produce environmental impact statements, boundary surveys, damage estimates and expert testimony for litigation. Another responsibility of forestry consultants might include solving problems to allow for the best use of natural resources, requiring that they perform many of the same duties as officials from government departments of natural resources.

    MGE has endeavored to secure opportunities statewide and will continue to do so. Our goal is for every employee to be able to work near their home. Given the nature of our work, this is not always the case and weekly travel is often expected for the duration of the assigned project. In such instances, MGE will provide you with hotel accommodations and per diem. Extensive drive times are often required, and you may be called upon for overtime and emergency response work.

    Requirements:

    3-5 years’ experience.

    Current Pest Control Advisor license required, ISA Arborist preferred

    B.A./B.S. in Natural Resources Management, Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, Forestry, Biology or a related field.

    Tree species ID and growth rate knowledge.

    Reforestation and restoration experience.

    Contract management experience.

    Fire experience or Fuels inventory and project layout experience.

    Timber cruising or Utility P.I. Hazard tree assessment experience.

    Ability to work in remote rugged locations.

    Ability to hike and perform work on uneven, rocky, wooded and brushy slopes. *Contact with poisonous plants and wildlife is likely and ability to mitigate or navigate around while still able to perform job duties

    Broad knowledge of in the physical and life sciences (e.g., forestry, botany, land, soil, water)

    Ability to analyze data and communicate results in oral and written presentations.

    Ability to organize, analyze, interpret, and evaluate scientific data to solve natural resources problems in the development of bioenergy resources.

    Ability to utilize GIS equipment to collect data.

    Must pass a pre-employment substance screening exam

    Must pass a company administered basic driving test.

    Benefits

    • Competitive wages & excellent benefits
    • Premium Health Coverage for Employee and Dependents
      • Medical
      • Dental
      • Vision
    • Life Insurance
    • Long Term Disability
    • Vacation Pay
    • Holiday Pay
    • Sick Pay
    • 401k
  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find forestry consultants 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 forestry consultant job on Zippia to find and recruit forestry consultant 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 forestry consultants, 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.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    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 forestry consultant

    Once you've decided on a perfect forestry consultant candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new forestry consultant 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 forestry consultant?

Recruiting forestry consultants involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

Forestry consultants earn a median yearly salary is $66,819 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find forestry consultants for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $18 and $55.

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