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Foresters

Life, Physical, and Social Science (19-1032)

Manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. May inventory the type, amount, and location of standing timber, appraise the timber's worth, negotiate the purchase, and draw up contracts for procurement. May determine how to conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality, and soil stability, and how best to comply with environmental regulations. May devise plans for planting and growing new trees, monitor trees for healthy growth, and determine optimal harvesting schedules.

At a Glance

Foresters earns a median of $70,660/yr with +1.2% projected growth. Typical entry: Bachelor's degree. Top skills: Microsoft Excel, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Microsoft Word.

Median Annual Wage

$70,660/yr

Projected Growth (2024-34)

+1.2%

Annual Openings

1

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Skills & Requirements

Skills (14)

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

4.0
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

3.9
Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

3.9
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

3.9
Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

3.9
Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

3.8
Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

3.8
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

3.8
Systems Evaluation

Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

3.6
Systems Analysis

Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

3.6
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

3.5
Time Management

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

3.5
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

3.3
Negotiation

Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

3.3

Knowledge (8)

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

3.9
English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

3.8
Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

3.8
Biology

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

3.7
Law and Government

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

3.4
Geography

Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

3.3
Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

3.3
Public Safety and Security

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

3.3

Abilities (15)

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

4.0
Inductive Reasoning

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

3.9
Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

3.9
Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

3.9
Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

3.9
Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

3.9
Category Flexibility

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

3.9
Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

3.8
Written Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

3.8
Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

3.6
Speech Recognition

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

3.6
Speech Clarity

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

3.6
Flexibility of Closure

The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

3.4
Far Vision

The ability to see details at a distance.

3.3
Originality

The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

3.3

Technology (9)

Microsoft Excel

Category: Spreadsheet software | Hot Technology | In Demand

4.5
Microsoft Word

Category: Word processing software | Hot Technology

4.5
Microsoft Access

Category: Data base user interface and query software | Hot Technology

4.5
Microsoft PowerPoint

Category: Presentation software | Hot Technology | In Demand

4.5
Microsoft Outlook

Category: Electronic mail software | Hot Technology | In Demand

4.5
ESRI ArcGIS software

Category: Geographic information system | Hot Technology

4.5
Microsoft Office software

Category: Office suite software | Hot Technology | In Demand

4.5
Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP

Category: Web platform development software | Hot Technology

4.5
Geographic information system GIS systems

Category: Geographic information system

4.0

Work Activities (30)

Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

4.5
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

4.4
Communicating with People Outside the Organization

Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

4.3
Documenting/Recording Information

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

4.3
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

4.2
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

4.2
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

4.1
Performing Administrative Activities

Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

4.1
Scheduling Work and Activities

Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

4.1
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

4.1
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

4.0
Working with Computers

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

4.0
Getting Information

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

4.0
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

3.9
Analyzing Data or Information

Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

3.9
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others

Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

3.9
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment

Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.

3.8
Performing General Physical Activities

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

3.8
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People

Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

3.8
Processing Information

Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

3.8
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information

Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

3.7
Developing Objectives and Strategies

Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

3.7
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public

Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

3.7
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others

Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

3.7
Monitoring and Controlling Resources

Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

3.6
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others

Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

3.5
Providing Consultation and Advice to Others

Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

3.5
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

3.5
Developing and Building Teams

Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

3.5
Thinking Creatively

Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

3.3

Work Styles (1)

Dependability

A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.

3.6

Careers with Overlapping Skills

These occupations share the most skills. A career transition between them means many of your skills transfer directly.

Explore Key Skills

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