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Job outlook for urban foresters in the United States
Are urban forester jobs in demand?
Urban forester job and salary trends over time
Urban forester jobs over time
Urban forester job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 194 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 191 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 194 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 171 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 169 | 0.00% |
Average urban forester salary over time
Urban forester salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $56,526 | $27.18 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $54,591 | $26.25 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | $54,256 | $26.08 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $53,116 | $25.54 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $51,861 | $24.93 | +0.8% |
Urban forester jobs by state
Most common states for urban foresters
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 6 | 1% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 5 | 1% |
| 3 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 11 | 0% |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 10 | 0% |
| 5 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 9 | 0% |
| 6 | New York | 19,849,399 | 9 | 0% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 8 | 0% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 6 | 0% |
| 9 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 5 | 0% |
| 10 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 4 | 0% |
| 11 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 3 | 0% |
| 12 | Alaska | 739,795 | 1 | 0% |
| 13 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 1 | 0% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 1 | 0% |
| 15 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 1 | 0% |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 1 | 0% |
| 17 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 0 | 0% |
| 18 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 0 | 0% |
| 19 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 0 | 0% |
| 20 | Delaware | 961,939 | 0 | 0% |
Most common cities for urban foresters
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belmont | 1 | 4% | $67,037 |
| 2 | Sacramento | 1 | 0% | $63,289 |
Urban Forester job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of urban forester experts
Michigan State University
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
New Mexico Highlands University
North Carolina State University
University of Minnesota
Clemson University
Clemson University
What general advice would you give to an Urban Forester?
Justin Kunkle PhD: 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.
What Urban Forester skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Justin Kunkle PhD: Forestry is a good profession to enter now due to the increasing focus on environmental conservation, sustainable resource management, and the growing demand for professionals who can manage forests effectively. There are also opportunities for innovation and technological advancements in the field.
What will help Urban Foresters increase their earning potential?
Justin Kunkle PhD: People in forestry enjoy working outdoors, connecting with nature, and contributing to conservation efforts. However, challenges may include long hours, physical labor, and dealing with unpredictable weather conditions.
Paul Doruska
Professor of Forest Measurements & Forestry Discipline CoordinatorUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
College of Natural Resources
What soft skills should all Urban Foresters possess?
Paul Doruska: Awareness/Adherence to equity, diversity, inclusion, communicating (written, oral, electronic, social media), listening, teamwork, ethics, adaptability (especially to changing technology), conflict resolution, lifelong dedication to continuing education (As the world of forestry is forever changing) and dedication to continued certifications - (all of those above and then post-graduate certifications such as Society of American Foresters Certified Forester, Certified Park and Recreation Professional, Real Estate/Appraisals (unfortunately don't know the correct titling here off the top of my head) and the list goes on... Willingness to network through professional organizations (Society of American foresters, Parks and Recreation Association, Society for ecological restoration, International Society of Arboriculture, the list goes on...); multitasking to make most efficient use of one's time.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Urban Foresters?
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 skills will help Urban Foresters earn the most?
Paul Doruska: Stated simply - "want to," desire and drive! In my view, a Bachelor's degree shows folks you are committed to learning and committed to Forestry - where one takes it from there depends on the individual person first and foremost.
Dr. Joshua Sloan Ph.D.
Director of Forestry, InterimNew Mexico Highlands University
Department of Forestry
How have salaries changed over time for Urban Foresters?
Dr. Joshua Sloan Ph.D.: It's difficult to talk about salary trends in the forestry sector in a general way because the sector is so broad and diverse, covering everything from sawyers and equipment operators on one end of the spectrum to researchers and administrators on the other. As with many sectors, the overall trend in the forestry sector has been toward wage growth over time, but the rate and magnitude of this growth have varied tremendously by region and job type, so I would encourage individuals interested in a career in forestry to do their own investigation of salary and employment trends for the region and job types they're interested in. Having said that, probably the most lucrative group of jobs for entry-level foresters today lies in the field of wildland firefighting. We've seen increasing numbers of large, catastrophic forest fires in recent years as a result of climate change and other causes, and this trend is likely to continue into the foreseeable future and continue to require large numbers of wildland firefighters, many of which get their start in SAF-accredited forestry programs.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Urban Forester job market given the pandemic?
Sam Cook: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted labor markets globally during 2020. The short-term consequences were sudden and often severe: Some people in our profession were furloughed but a majority of people adjusted to working from home, satellite facilities as offices closed. Many foresters and natural resource professions were deemed essential and continued to work in the field and from other external field facilities outside. I see a strong demand for timber to produce lumber and paper products. The increase in lumber prices did not pass down to the landowner for stumpage. I really think our profession was very visual during this pandemic, especially for those who needed more space to get outdoors. I saw increased building/remodeling projects, use of forest lands, parks, and other recreational areas.
What soft skills should all Urban Foresters possess?
Sam Cook: Soft skills required by our graduates: reading comprehension/writing/speaking/active listening, monitoring, critical thinking, time management, complex problem solving, and social perceptiveness
Marcella Windmuller-Campione Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Minnesota
Department of Forest Resources
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Urban Forester job market given the pandemic?
Marcella Windmuller-Campione Ph.D.: During the pandemic, some folks have really connected back to their local environments - parks, natural areas, and multiple forms of recreation. It has put a spotlight on how important nature is and I think there is interest in ensuring forests are and will continue to be forests. We may see more individuals entering school for degrees in forestry and environmental science. In terms of the job market, that may be variable. Some forest products have been critical during the pandemic (and will continue after) and that requires sound management. However, governmental budgets may be tighter.
What soft skills should all Urban Foresters possess?
Marcella Windmuller-Campione Ph.D.: Communication - communication about how and why forests are managed. This is critical to be able to tell the story of forestry (which is not just logging) but forestry as a science that incorporates multiple disciplines (soils, hydrology, tree growth, wildlife) when developing and making management decisions. There are a lot of moving pieces that a forester needs to consider and also needs to be able to share with multiple audiences.
What's a good job out of college for Urban Foresters?
Patrick Hiesl Ph.D.: This is a challenging question, as it depends on the goals and interests of the college graduate. Forestry consists of many specialized fields and employers can be federal or state governments, non-profit organizations, private industry, and others. Some of my students are interested in working for the federal government, so a job with the US Forest Service would be good for them. The US Forest Service offers a wide range of employment opportunities across the US and if someone is interested in working in many different parts of the US, working for the US Forest Service may be the right thing for them. I also have many students that wish to work for the state forest service or forestry commission. Similar to the US Forest Service, the state forest service or forestry commission can offer a wide range of employment opportunities, all within one state. If a college graduate is interested in working with private forest owners to manage their timberland, then a job with a consulting forestry firm is the right choice for them. Wood procurement is a large field within forestry and college graduates can find employment with wood dealers or with large industrial companies. Working for a wood dealer typically includes a lot of time traveling and searching for wood to buy. It also includes a lot of different forms of communication and interacting with potential customers. Industrial procurement on the other side is done by large industrial companies at their local mill level. Many of the industrial procurement foresters spend most of their time on the phone and in front of a computer. More numbers are crunched to provide their suppliers with accurate prices that the company can afford to pay. If a college graduate is more inclined to work in an office then outside, an industrial procurement job is the right fit. There are also many more employment options out there and it all depends on the goals and objectives of the college graduate. This is also why it is important for students to work internships during the summers, to help them figure out what they are really interested in.
What soft skills should all Urban Foresters possess?
Patricia Layton: Good communication skills, oral and written. The ability to work well with others and to interact well with people who own forests. Common sense is also really needed.