How to hire foresters
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage. • Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources. • Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations. • Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands. • Perform inspections of forests or forest nurseries. • Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals. • Provide advice and recommendations, as a consultant on forestry issues, to private woodlot owners, firefighters, government agencies or to companies. • Supervise activities of other forestry workers. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Bachelor's degree] • Strong critical thinking, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, active listening and writing skills • Working knowledge of biology, English Language, mathematics and geography • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $36.73 an hour ($76,400 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for foresters
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What foresters do
- Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.
- Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
- Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
- Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
- Perform inspections of forests or forest nurseries.
- Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.
- Provide advice and recommendations, as a consultant on forestry issues, to private woodlot owners, firefighters, government agencies or to companies.
- Supervise activities of other forestry workers.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for foresters
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Job outlook: +2.2% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 900 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay foresters
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| California | $107,120 |
| Oregon | $81,450 |
| Washington | $78,460 |
| Wisconsin | $66,010 |
See foresters pay in every state
Related hiring guides
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- Soil and Plant Scientists
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- Microbiologists
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
- Biological Scientists, All Other
- Conservation Scientists
- Epidemiologists
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
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Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.