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Public universities and land-grant colleges
Oregon State University, Texas A&M University, University of California
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
These teachers prepare college students to understand forests, land management, conservation policy, and related science through lectures, discussions, and research. What makes the job distinct is that it mixes classroom teaching with publishing and ongoing field research, so you have to stay current in a narrow specialty while also helping students learn it. The tradeoff is a stable academic career with solid pay, but only if you can handle the pressure to produce research and keep a faculty appointment.
Also known as Assistant Professor of ForestryAssociate Professor of ForestryLecturer in ForestryProfessor of Forest ResourcesForestry Faculty Member
Median Salary
$100,830
Mean $103,780
U.S. Workforce
~1K
0.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+4%
1.6K to 1.7K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary sits in the Education 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 ~1K workers, with a median annual pay of $100,830 and roughly 0.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 1.6 K in 2024 to 1.7K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctoral or professional degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Research or Teaching Assistant and can progress toward Associate or Full Professor. High-value skills usually include Academic Research Design, Peer Review & Publishing, ArcGIS, QGIS & GPS Mapping, and Forest Inventory & Field Sampling Methods, paired with soft skills such as Instructing, Learning Strategies, and Writing.
Core Responsibilities
- Lead classes for undergraduate or graduate students on topics like forest policy, tree health, and mapping.
- Write lesson plans, assignments, and handouts for each course.
- Hold office hours and meet with students who need academic guidance or research advice.
- Advise student clubs and other student groups connected to the department.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Lead classes for undergraduate or graduate students on topics like forest policy, tree health, and mapping.
02 Write lesson plans, assignments, and handouts for each course.
03 Hold office hours and meet with students who need academic guidance or research advice.
04 Advise student clubs and other student groups connected to the department.
05 Work on research projects, then publish the results in journals, books, or online outlets.
06 Keep up with new findings by reading the literature, talking with peers, and attending conferences.
Industries That Hire
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Private research universities
Cornell University, Duke University, Stanford University
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Community colleges
Montgomery College, Miami Dade College, Houston Community College
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Government research and extension
USDA Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is strong for an education job, with a mean annual wage of $103,780 and a median of $100,830.
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You get to combine teaching with research, which keeps the work varied instead of repeating the same tasks all week.
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The job lets you shape future foresters, conservation workers, and land managers through direct instruction and advising.
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The role is highly specialized, so experienced faculty can build deep expertise and become go-to experts in a narrow field.
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There is at least some room for growth, with employment projected to rise from 1.6 thousand to 1.7 thousand by 2034.
Challenges
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The job market is tiny, with only 1,310 workers and about 0.1 thousand annual openings, so competition for faculty jobs is intense.
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Getting in usually takes a doctoral or professional degree, and many workers also complete post-doctoral training, which makes the path long.
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Growth is only 4.0% over ten years, so this is not a fast-expanding field with lots of new openings.
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Early-career success often depends on publishing, grants, and tenure reviews, which can make the work feel unstable and high pressure.
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The role is not very remote-friendly because teaching, office hours, and department work usually happen on campus.
Career Progression
Graduate Research or Teaching Assistant
0-2 years
$35K-$48K
You help with labs, grading, or introductory teaching while building the research record needed for a faculty job.
Postdoctoral Researcher
2-4 years
$55K-$72K
You focus on publishing, grant work, and field studies while gaining the specialization that colleges want.
Assistant Professor of Forestry THIS ROLE
4-8 years
$73K-$92K
You teach, advise students, and build a publication record while trying to earn tenure or a stronger academic role.
Forestry and Conservation Science Teacher, Postsecondary
8-15 years
$93K-$112K
You balance classes, student advising, and research publication, often with more autonomy and a heavier service load.
Associate or Full Professor
15+ years
$113K-$145K
You lead research, mentor junior faculty, shape curriculum, and may take on department-level leadership.
Education Paths
Doctoral or professional degree
BLS lists this as the typical entry requirement for the role, especially for tenure-track and research-focused college jobs.
Post-doctoral training
The education distribution shows 22.15% at this level, and it is a common next step for people trying to land competitive faculty positions.
Master's degree plus college teaching or research experience
The education distribution shows 0.0% at this level, so this is usually an alternate route into adjunct or lecturer work rather than the standard path.
Key Skills
Technical
Academic Research Design, Peer Review & Publishing 88%
ArcGIS, QGIS & GPS Mapping 86%
Forest Inventory & Field Sampling Methods 84%
R, SPSS & Stata for Data Analysis 82%
Canvas, Blackboard & Moodle Course Management 80%
Soft Skills
InstructingLearning StrategiesWritingReading ComprehensionSpeakingActive Listening Job Outlook and Trends
+4%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 1.6K to 1.7 K over the next decade, representing 4% growth. Around 0.1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.