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Forest Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Our employees ensure data communications networks are engineered, manufactured, deployed, and maintained to the highest standards, enabling faster and more reliable connectivity to communities ...

Civil Engineer 3 (CE3)

Olympia, WA · On-site +1

$76K - $102K/yr

As our journey-level Civil Engineer 3, you will design and manage critical forest road networks, conduct structural bridge inspections, and engineer innovative fish passage structures. From surveying ...

Civil Engineer 3 (CE3)

Olympia, WA · On-site +1

$76K - $102K/yr

As our journey-level Civil Engineer 3, you will design and manage critical forest road networks, conduct structural bridge inspections, and engineer innovative fish passage structures. From surveying ...

Forester

Kountze, TX · On-site

$4.5K/mo

Provides local leadership in the areas of emergency management, forest pest management, landowner ... Conservation and environmental education programming, working with landowners, program ...

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Forest Engineer information

See salary details

$36K

$84.6K

$115K

How much do forest engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for forest engineer in the United States is $84,623.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60,000.00 and $113,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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.

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 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 forest engineers?

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 cities are hiring for Forest Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Forest Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Forest Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Forest Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Forest Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Forest Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Forest Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $84,623 per year, or $40.7 per hour.

Job description

Explore a new career with the Bureau Land Management - where our people are our most precious resource. You will serve as a Forestry Technician.

Pay will vary based on grade level and/or duty location for which you're selected. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-07/29/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. All candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements.

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level in which you are applying.
GS-07:
A. Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sector) performing 3 or more of the following: 1) assisting professional foresters to gather resource information used to prepare routine planning or environmental clearance documents such as categorical exclusions or environmental assessments; 2) assisting professional foresters or senior forestry technicians to conduct segments of forest inventories such as common stand exams; 3) assisting professional foresters or senior forestry technicians to perform conventional forestry duties such as forest road layout, timber sale layout, planting layout, pre-commercial thinning layout, and tree marking; 4) occasionally serving as crew lead for routine projects or assisting with the supervision or inspection of work crews carrying out routine projects; 5) performing timber sale reconnaissance to assist unit design for proposed timber sale tracts.
OR
B. Successful completion of at least one full year of graduate education which included courses directly related to the work of the position such as: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.
OR
C. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience. To calculate your combined amount, first determine the amount of your specialized experience as a percentage of the requirement listed in A above. Then determine the amount of your education as a percentage of the requirement listed in B above; then add the two percentages. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.
GS-08:
A. Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sector) performing 3 or more of the following: 1) making limited recommendations to professional foresters or senior resource specialists relative to forest management practices (i.e., forest conditions, riparian buffers, wildlife habitat considerations, etc.); 2) applying variable-radius plot sampling techniques to conduct common stand exams, timber cruises or implement tree marking prescriptions; 3) planning and conducting field layout of forest roads and timber harvest units, including GPS traverse and mapping procedures; 4) advising or training junior foresters or forestry technicians on established methods or procedures required to perform technical forestry field work; 5) performing timber sale reconnaissance to locate property lines, identify preferred logging systems and determine preliminary road grades.
OR
B. Successful completion of at least two full years of graduate education or a master's degree which included courses directly related to the work of the position such as: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.
OR
C. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience. To calculate your combined amount, first determine the amount of your specialized experience as a percentage of the requirement listed in A above. Then determine the amount of your education as a percentage of the requirement listed in B above; then add the two percentages. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.
GS-09:
A. Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-08 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sector) performing 3 or more of the following: 1) participating in interdisciplinary efforts to design timber harvest units and resolve associated resource concerns; 2) evaluating field data for accuracy or applicability to make informed forestry-related decisions; 3) planning and implementing the field layout of timber sale projects; 4) leading a crew of junior foresters or forestry technicians in accomplishing project objectives; 5) investigating and initiating reports of unauthorized use or timber trespass including preliminary determination of timber value and other resource damage.
OR
B. Successful completion of at least two full years of graduate education or a master's degree which included courses directly related to the work of the position such as: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.
OR
C. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience. To calculate your combined amount, first determine the amount of your specialized experience as a percentage of the requirement listed in A above. Then determine the amount of your education as a percentage of the requirement listed in B above; then add the two percentages. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.
Volunteer Experience: 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:
To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification

Employment Type: OTHER