Forestry degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in forestry earn a median $58,499 four years after finishing, across 31 U.S. colleges. At ages 25-34, people whose degree is in forestry earn $60,855, $1,194 less than all bachelor's holders. The most common job is conservation scientists and foresters (24%).
Median across 31 colleges; middle half $55,786–$64,392.
College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)
Middle half $44,576–$76,144. 468 survey respondents.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; field "Forestry"; EducationGuide calculation
- All bachelor's, 25-34$62,049
- High school, 25-34$35,638
- This degree vs high school+$25,217/yr
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school
Median across colleges reporting.
College Scorecard field of study
Jobs forestry graduates hold
What employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in forestry actually do, with U.S. wages and the outlook for each job. The first column comes from the Census survey; wages and growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Job | Share of graduates | U.S. median wage | Jobs growth 2025-35 | Typical entry | Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation Scientists And Foresters | 24% | $73,920 | +4.3% | — | — |
| Other Life, Physical, And Social Science Technicians | 4% | — | — | — | — |
| Firefighters | 3% | $59,280 | +3.7% | Postsecondary nondegree award | R |
| Tree Trimmers And Pruners | 2% | $50,960 | +4.2% | High school diploma or equivalent | RC |
| Other Managers | 2% | — | — | — | — |
| Purchasing Managers | 2% | $148,080 | +4.0% | Bachelor's degree | EC |
| Retail Salespersons | 2% | $35,410 | -0.3% | No formal educational credential | EC |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale And Manufacturing | 2% | $76,460 | — | — | — |
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, bachelor's as highest degree, employed); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35; O*NET 31.0 interest codes (R realistic, I investigative, A artistic, S social, E enterprising, C conventional).
Colleges where forestry graduates earn the most
In the states we cover so far (Florida, Virginia, California): 2 in Florida, 1 in Virginia, 4 in California offer this major. Open a college to see cost to finish and payback for your income.
| # | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtCA | $79,849 | $22,173 |
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA | $77,419 | $17,000 |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA | $64,204 | $20,919 |
| 4 | University of FloridaFL | $48,755 | $15,512 |
College Scorecard field of study. Colleges meeting our core-data standard; online campuses left out.
Related degrees
Forestry degree questions
How much do Forestry graduates make?
Forestry graduates earn a median $58,499 four years after finishing, across 31 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $55,786 to $64,392; College Scorecard, graduates who received federal aid). Among all workers ages 25-34 whose bachelor's degree is in forestry, the median is $60,855 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is a Forestry degree worth it?
At ages 25-34, people with a bachelor's in forestry earn a median $60,855: $1,194 less than all bachelor's degree holders ($62,049) and $25,217 more than high school graduates ($35,638). EducationGuide calculation from Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school.
What jobs do Forestry graduates get?
Among employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in forestry, the most common jobs are conservation scientists and foresters (24%), other life, physical, and social science technicians (4%), firefighters (3%). Conservation Scientists And Foresters earn a U.S. median $73,920.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey microdata; Bureau of Labor Statistics; O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all degrees
Cite this: “Forestry degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/forestry.