How To Become A Service Forester: What It Is and Career Path

What is a service forester and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted expert

Justin Kunkle PhD

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a service forester. For example, did you know that they make an average of $19.49 an hour? That's $40,543 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 1,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a service forester?

Justin Kunkle PhD

Director of Undergraduate Studies, Michigan State University

The day-to-day tasks of a forester include conducting fieldwork, managing forests, developing forest management plans, analyzing data, and ensuring sustainable practices. Someone entering the field may start by assisting senior foresters, learning about different tree species, and understanding forest management techniques.

ScoreService ForesterUS Average

Salary

3.2

Avg. Salary $40,543

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.6

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.13%

Asian 1.37%

Black or African American 0.23%

Hispanic or Latino 1.82%

Unknown 2.96%

White 92.49%

Gender

female 25.58%

male 74.42%

Age - 41

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41

Stress level

6.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.8

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a service forester

Explore service forester education requirements

Most common service forester degrees

Bachelor's

61.9 %

High School Diploma

19.0 %

Associate

14.3 %

Start to develop specific service forester skills

Skills	Percentages
GPS	56.98%
GIS	23.50%
Federal Agencies	11.00%
BMP	8.52%

Complete relevant service forester training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New service foresters learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a service forester based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real service forester resumes.

Research service forester duties and responsibilities

Manage inventory and treatment data as well as special projects for privately-own timberland using advance GIS and database software.
Implement key stakeholder and media initiative promoting SFI practices.
Provide assistance, information, and referrals regarding eligibility for services and service relate benefits to military veterans and their family.
Monitor storm clean-up per FEMA requirements.

Prepare your service forester resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your service forester resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a service forester resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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