ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Forest Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Collins

Forester II

Chester, CA · On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

... forest engineering, natural resource management, economics, business, plant biology, plant genetics, or agriculture sciences. or a similar field required. * Hold a California Registered Professional ...

Collins

Forester II

Chester, CA · On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

... forest engineering, natural resource management, economics, business, plant biology, plant genetics, or agriculture sciences. or a similar field required. * Hold a California Registered Professional ...

City of San Marino

Urban Forester

San Marino, CA · On-site

$6.5K - $7.9K/mo

... Director/City Engineer, the Urban Forester classification is distinguished from other ... Urban forest management plans and contract specifications. Cal/OSHA regulations and safe work ...

City of Burbank, CA

URBAN FORESTER

Burbank, CA · On-site

$89K - $117K/yr

... Forest Master Plan; utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping software and other ... engineering principles in grading, drainage, erosion control, and paving design; principles and ...

City of Burbank

URBAN FORESTER

Burbank, CA · On-site

$89K - $117K/yr

... Urban Forest Master Plan; investigates, analyzes, responds to, and resolves complaints from the ... engineering principles in grading, drainage, erosion control, and paving design; principles and ...

Blue Forest

Credit Manager

Sacramento, CA · On-site +1

$110K/yr

Blue Forest is made up of an interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, foresters, finance professionals, and communications professionals committed to the mission: "To accelerate ecological ...

Blue Forest

Credit Manager

Sacramento, CA · On-site +1

$92K - $110K/yr

Blue Forest is made up of an interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, foresters, finance professionals, and communications professionals committed to the mission: "To accelerate ecological ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsForest Engineer JobsForest Engineer Jobs in California

Forest Engineer information

See California salary details

$35.5K

$83.5K

$113.5K

How much do forest engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for forest engineer in California is $83,515.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $59,200.00 and $112,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a forest engineer?

Forest engineers are professionals who apply engineering principles to the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of forest roads, infrastructure, and equipment. They work to ensure that forest operations are efficient, environmentally sustainable, and safe. Their responsibilities may include designing road systems for logging, developing erosion control measures, and implementing technologies for forest management. Forest engineers often collaborate with foresters, environmental scientists, and government agencies to balance resource extraction with conservation goals.

What does a forest engineer do?

As a forest engineer, your job is to support forestry and land management efforts. In this role, you may support sustainability plans, help determine the best routes for roads or rail systems, and oversee engineering projects that take place in or near forests. Many details of this job depend on the type of engineering work you perform. Forest engineers may work in areas like hydrology, survey crews, regional planners, or even as construction managers. These jobs often require different skills, so where you choose to focus your education and early career can affect your later job choices. Forest engineers usually work near larger forests, which limits this job to areas of the country with a lot of trees.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a forest engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Forest Engineer, you need a solid background in forestry, environmental science, and civil engineering, usually supported by a relevant bachelor's degree. Familiarity with GIS software, forest management systems, and sometimes professional certification like SAF (Society of American Foresters) accreditation is important. Strong analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating with diverse stakeholders and addressing complex environmental challenges. These competencies ensure sustainable forest management, regulatory compliance, and the successful execution of forestry projects.

What are some common challenges faced by forest engineers when balancing environmental sustainability with commercial objectives?

Forest Engineers often navigate the challenge of implementing sustainable forestry practices while meeting commercial production goals. This requires careful planning to ensure that harvesting methods protect ecosystems, maintain biodiversity, and comply with environmental regulations, all while optimizing timber yield and minimizing costs. Collaboration with ecologists, government agencies, and logging crews is essential to develop management plans that address both conservation and economic interests. Adapting to evolving environmental standards and new technologies is also a key part of the role.

What is the difference between Forest Engineer vs Forest Technician?

AspectForest EngineerForest Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in Forest Engineering or related fieldAssociate's degree or technical certification in forestry
Work EnvironmentDesigning and managing forest projects, fieldwork, planningAssisting with data collection, field surveys, supporting forest management
Employer & Industry UsageGovernment agencies, consulting firms, forestry companiesForestry departments, environmental agencies, research institutions

Forest Engineers focus on planning, designing, and managing forest projects, requiring a bachelor's degree. Forest Technicians support fieldwork and data collection, typically with technical certifications. Both roles work in similar environments and industries but differ in education level and responsibilities.

More about Forest Engineer jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Forest Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Forest Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Forest Engineer jobs in California?

For Forest Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Forest Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Forest Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Forest Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Forest Engineer job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Forest Engineer jobs in CA?

For Forest Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Forest Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Forest Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $83,515 per year, or $40.2 per hour.

Assistant Forest Engineer

Recruitment and Hiring | US Forest Service

San Diego, CA • On-site

$89K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

This announcement is being advertised as a Forest Service National Hiring effort to fill multiple vacancies. Positions may be filled at one or more of the duty locations included in this announcement. Final determination of the duty location will be made at the time of the job offer.
For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Kelly Orr at kelly.orr@usda.gov.Qualifications:In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.
Basic Requirement:
GS-0810 Series
A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
  1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
  2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
  3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
  4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)
In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.
Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GS-12 level: Applicants must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as two (2) or more of the following:
  • Performed technical calculations and identified the most economical and efficient procedures for civil engineering projects;
  • Prepared completed and detailed designs, drawings, and specifications for civil engineering projects;
  • Performed engineering project management or asset management; and/or
  • Evaluated engineering plans or documents prepared by others prior to start of construction and recommended corrective actions.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.Education:There is no substitution of education for specialized experience.Employment Type: OTHER

Apply