Forestry
Natural Resources & Conservation
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $58,088 | $55,724 to $64,436 | 32 | 100% |
| Master's Degree | $61,616 | $47,015 to $72,807 | 5 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +3% (2025 to 2035), about 16,300 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $59,320 | +3.8% | 7,200 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $54,560 | -2.1% | 3,800 |
| Forest and Conservation Workers | $43,680 | -1.5% | 2,200 |
| Conservation Scientists | $73,010 | +5.3% | 2,100 |
| Foresters | $76,400 | +2.2% | 900 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $101,420 | +2.8% | 100 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a forestry program, of 104 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- University of Florida
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Northern Arizona University
- Reedley College
- University of Georgia
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
- Mississippi State University
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.