Graduates of the forest ecology and management major may be employed by government agencies, nonprofit organizations or private industry. You'll be prepared for a career that focuses on forest management and conservation, with specific job titles that may include the following:
- Forester
- Park ranger
- Wildland fire manager
- Restoration ecologist
- Natural resource planner
If you find work with the government, you may be working for the National Park Service, the Forest Service, or a state or local agency in a career focused on maintaining healthy forests by managing growth, selecting and planting seeds, and helping with fire suppression. Work for a nonprofit may involve advocacy for land use policies that benefit communities and support healthy forests. Private industry, including groups such as the timber industry, may also employ foresters to help develop sustainable logging plans.
Climate change, including increased risk of wildfire, is likely to drive demand for these professionals in coming years, especially in the Western U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Bureau reported that conservation scientists and foresters had a median annual salary of $63,750 in 2021.