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Forestry & Logging
Weyerhaeuser, West Fraser, Georgia-Pacific
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
This job sits between the crew and the operation’s bigger plans. Supervisors move equipment, line up workers and transportation, and keep an eye on safety in places where weather, harvest timing, and machine breakdowns can change the day fast. The core tradeoff is constant: keep production moving without letting a shortcut turn into an injury or an expensive delay.
Also known as Farm Crew SupervisorHarvest SupervisorLogging Crew SupervisorForestry Crew SupervisorAgricultural Operations Supervisor
Median Salary
$59,330
Mean $63,360
U.S. Workforce
~30K
8.5K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.5%
65.4K to 67K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~30K workers, with a median annual pay of $59,330 and roughly 8.5K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 65.4 K in 2024 to 67K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Crew Worker / Equipment Operator and can progress toward Division Manager / Regional Operations Leader. High-value skills usually include Coordination with GPS Dispatch & Crew Scheduling Tools, Critical Thinking for Field Problems, and Monitoring Safety Checklists & Incident Reports, paired with soft skills such as Leadership, Clear communication, and Problem-solving.
Core Responsibilities
- Move tractors, loaders, logging gear, and other equipment to new sites and get everything set up before work starts.
- Plan which workers, trucks, and machines go where each day so several locations stay on schedule.
- Watch work as it happens to make sure safety rules are being followed, and correct or discipline people who ignore them.
- Teach workers how to use equipment, handle crops or timber safely, and follow the right procedures for the job.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Move tractors, loaders, logging gear, and other equipment to new sites and get everything set up before work starts.
02 Plan which workers, trucks, and machines go where each day so several locations stay on schedule.
03 Watch work as it happens to make sure safety rules are being followed, and correct or discipline people who ignore them.
04 Teach workers how to use equipment, handle crops or timber safely, and follow the right procedures for the job.
05 Check fields, yards, buildings, and equipment for damage or wear so repairs can be handled before they stop production.
06 Keep in touch with owners, foresters, or transportation teams to adjust harvest plans, log movement, and production timing.
Industries That Hire
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Crop Farming
Cargill, Archer Daniels Midland, Driscoll's
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Fishing & Aquaculture
Trident Seafoods, Mowi, Bakkafrost
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Agricultural Services
Nutrien Ag Solutions, Wilbur-Ellis, Helena Agri-Enterprises
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Wood Products & Paper
Boise Cascade, International Paper, Packaging Corporation of America
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The median pay is $59,330, which is respectable for a role that typically asks for a high school diploma and less than 5 years of experience.
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There are about 8.5K annual openings, so even with only 2.5% growth through 2034, there should still be steady hiring from replacements and retirements.
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You get real leadership responsibility early: scheduling crews, moving equipment, and deciding how to keep multiple sites running.
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The work is hands-on and varied, so you are not stuck behind a desk all day.
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If you are good at safety, planning, and people management, this job can lead to higher-level operations roles.
Challenges
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Growth is only 2.5% by 2034, so this is a stable field rather than a fast-expanding one.
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The work is tied to weather, harvest cycles, and commodity demand, which can make hours and workload swing sharply by season.
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Safety pressure is constant because you are responsible for crews around heavy equipment, tree felling, loading, and transport.
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Consolidation and mechanization can reduce the number of crew-level and supervisor openings, especially in smaller operations.
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The job is difficult to do remotely and often has a career ceiling unless you move into operations management or ownership.
Career Progression
Crew Worker / Equipment Operator
0-2 years
$32K-$41K
You learn the work from the ground up by handling equipment, following directions, and getting comfortable with safety rules and seasonal routines.
Crew Lead / Working Foreman
3-5 years
$42K-$53K
You start directing small teams, checking work quality, and helping solve day-to-day problems while still spending plenty of time in the field.
First-Line Supervisor THIS ROLE
6-9 years
$54K-$68K
You schedule crews and equipment, train workers, watch safety compliance, and keep work moving across one or more sites.
Operations Manager / Site Superintendent
10-14 years
$69K-$88K
You oversee several crews or locations, handle bigger production decisions, and spend more time on planning, budgets, and performance.
Division Manager / Regional Operations Leader
15+ years
$89K-$115K
You run larger parts of the business, set targets, and manage supervisors rather than daily field work.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
A high school diploma or GED is a common starting point, and 31.52% of workers in the broader occupation report this level.
Bachelor's degree in agriculture, forestry, natural resources, or business
A bachelor's degree is also common, and 32.89% of workers in the broader occupation report this level, especially in larger operations that want more planning and recordkeeping experience.
Post-secondary certificate in farm, logging, or equipment operations
A post-secondary certificate shows up for 13.7% of workers and can help you move up if you pair it with strong field experience.
Start in the field and add safety or equipment credentials
Some supervisors get there by working first in the crew and then adding practical credentials such as equipment safety, chainsaw, pesticide, or commercial driving training.
Key Skills
Technical
Coordination with GPS Dispatch & Crew Scheduling Tools 75%
Critical Thinking for Field Problems 75%
Monitoring Safety Checklists & Incident Reports 72%
Speaking with Crews, Foresters & Vendors 72%
Management of Personnel Resources & Crew Assignments 70%
Reading Work Orders, Maps & Harvest Plans 70%
Time Management with Multi-Site Scheduling Software 70%
Active Listening in Crew Briefings & Toolbox Talks 68%
Soft Skills
LeadershipClear communicationProblem-solvingAttention to safetyOrganizationCoaching and mentoring Job Outlook and Trends
+2.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
8.5K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 65.4K to 67 K over the next decade, representing 2.5% growth. Around 8.5 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.