Jobs for the Major
How this major affects a job search
Don't fall into the trap of thinking that all forestry majors spend their days staring at bark and saying, "Yep, that's a tree." In fact, the combination of a very low unemployment rate and a solid satisfaction rate means that forestry majors have a pretty good job outlook.
So there will probably be some of that tree-staring, but it'll be happy tree-staring. More like a gaze, really.
There's a variety of ways you can make a living in this industry, from determining the price of land to working in a government office. In fact, the government is a huge employer of foresters. Check out those government job boards if you're a recent forestry grad looking to make some money.
In addition to government employment, education is a popular area for forestry individuals. Research is a huge part of forestry, so a lot of these woodland folk fall into academia. It's how they advance their tree-saving skills, after all.
But don't feel guilty for taking that high-paying job that doesn't do research. Just know that those people are there to save the world. While you aren't. No big deal. (It's a big deal.)
Common Career Fields
Appraisal. Let's say you're looking to buy some land to build a sweet cabin on. If all you need to know is the value of the land, you should be able to look up basic prices for acres of land, right? Unfortunately, no. Buying and selling land brings in some complex issues that affect value, and a big one is the potential timber output. That's right, you're going to have to pay more (or get more, if you're selling) if there are many trees on the land that could be worth cutting. Getting a good appraisal could save buckets of money, so don't skimp on who you get to appraise your land.
Education. Many students of forestry go into education. Like other scientific fields, colleges and universities offer much of the money to conduct research, so becoming a graduate student or professor could open many doors. Both of these will require teaching, which is a great way to be surrounded by people that share your interests. Just think about it…you'll probably have a much better turn-out at a senior-level class compared to a "tree lovers night" at your place. One of those is significantly less weird than the other.
Land Management. Monitoring and maintaining parcels of land is a very important job for anyone who's interested in either preserving or selling land. Understanding how to effectively take care of land can be key to not only the health of the area, but to the value, as well. If a property is purchased because of the potential to produce high amounts of lumber, it would be important to know which trees to cut and which to let grow.
National Parks. Many national parks employ (power forest?) rangers to monitor the land and those who come to enjoy it. Park rangers are expected to be extremely knowledgeable about not only their specific park, but also the science behind it all. For example, a park ranger at Acadia National Park in Maine might be expected to explain why the forest there is made up of significantly different trees than Yellowstone National Park. This means you'd better enjoy learning about ecology and different climates.
Policy. If saving the natural world was easy, it would have been done by now. Unfortunately, it's a complicated world with many different issues. As a result, much of the conservation business takes place behind big conference room doors, not the great outdoors. The politics that affect forestry have a major impact, from legislation that forbids clear cutting to bills that outlaw dumping. Even though you won't get the immediate gratification of working with your hands, you can make a serious difference for the world in this sector.
Urban Forestry. If you're a fan of forestry, you're probably an advocate for the outdoors. That may be true, but what if you also love being surrounded by other people and buildings? If so, then urban forestry could be the career path for you. These professionals work within cities, such as public parks and preserved open space. They seek to bring a little natural beauty to the area in a way that lets people stay in touch with Mother Earth. You can thank these sorts of people for projects like Central Park in New York or Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
Wildland Firefighting. If you have a love for trees and a passionate distaste for the fires that destroy them, firefighting could be the way to go. Areas such as the American West often see devastating wildfires that can destroy miles and miles of forests. It's up to wildland firefighters such as Interagency Hotshot Crews to save the day. These are the cream of the crop when it comes to what they do, which is kick fire's butt. Remember, Shmoopers: Only you can prevent forest fires, but in case you don't (why?), we'll need wildland firefighters.
Current unemployment of the major
4.0%Percentage of majors who get a higher degree after college
26%Stats obtained from this source.