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Forest and Conservation Worker/Scientists
Scientists: Plan, develop, and control environmental factors affecting forests, range land, and farm land and their resources for economic and recreational purposes through activities such as researching soil erosion, conducting fire prevention programs, reforestation, and preservation of natural resources.
The average Federal salary for Foresters is around $39,500 a year. The entry level pay for Forester I with California Department of Forestry (CDF) starts at $3,892 per month and can range to $4,730. A Forester II can earn between $4,280 to $5,190 monthly. The monthly salary for a Forester III begins at $4,700 and can go as high as $5,720. Entry level Forester positions annual salaries in the private sector generally start between $22,000 and $25,000. Local Wages Hours & Benefits Employment Trends Employment Trends by California County According to the Society of American Foresters, more than half of professional Foresters work for government. About 25 percent are employed by the wood products industry with the rest working in teaching, consulting or related fields. Since the beginning of environmental awareness in the late 1960s, nature-related jobs have grown in popularity. With increased student interest in forestry and restricted federal and State budgets, competition for entry level jobs is stiff. Advancement Getting the Job & Other Information For current job listings, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank. |
Education and Training The minimum educational requirement for most entry level professional positions is a BS in forestry or a closely related major. Foresters who manage a private forestland must be licensed in the State of California. The Forester License is also required for many higher level forestry jobs, and CDF requires it to qualify for the Forester II position. Licensing requires an examination, plus a bachelor's degree in forestry and three years of experience under the direction of a licensed forester, or four years of forestry work, plus three years under a licensed Forester. High school students interested in this field need to take college preparatory classes with an emphasis on math, science, and English. The University of California at Berkeley, Humboldt State University and California State Polytechnic College at San Luis Obispo offer undergraduate programs. Humboldt offers a Master program. U.C. Berkeley has Master and Ph.D. forestry programs. Skills & Other Requirements If you are interested in working in this field you probably love working in the great outdoors! In reality, though, Foresters may spend a lot of time indoors. They work in laboratories, offices, parks, Christmas tree farms, nurseries, sawmills, manufacturing plants, classrooms, and even in legislative halls. Most Foresters, however, do get to spend a lot of their time "in the woods", especially during the first years of their career. They work outside in all seasons and weather conditions and are often exposed to hazards such as smoke, poison oak, and insects. Forests are not only in the country, they are also found in our suburbs and cities. The field of forestry includes the study and administration of all the elements of the forest ecosystem, including people. Foresters are environmental scientists who are committed to getting the greatest good from our forests for the largest number of people. Foresters are employed by the U.S. Forest Service, State and other government entities, timberland companies and wood products industries. References Related Occupation: Park Rangers #232, Fire Fighters #241, Horticulturalists #396 Training: California State Training Inventory
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