Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC Code: 25-1043.00
Education & LibraryForestry and Conservation Science Teachers at the postsecondary level earn a median salary of $100,830 while educating the next generation of forest managers, conservation scientists, and environmental professionals. These professors teach courses in silviculture, forest ecology, wildlife management, watershed science, and related disciplines at colleges and universities. They combine classroom instruction with field-based teaching and original research that advances scientific understanding of natural resource management. It's a career that unites academic scholarship with a deep connection to forests and the natural world.
Salary Overview
Median
$100,830
25th Percentile
$81,380
75th Percentile
$125,080
90th Percentile
$154,630
Salary Distribution
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Growth Rate
+4.0%
New Openings
100
Outlook
As fast as average
Key Skills
Knowledge Areas
What They Do
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics, such as forest resource policy, forest pathology, and mapping.
- Supervise students' laboratory or field work.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
Tools & Technology
★ = Hot Technology (in-demand)
Education Requirements
Typical entry-level education: Related Work Experience
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Featured In
Top Career Pivot Targets
View all 14 →Careers with the highest skill compatibility from Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary.
A Day in the Life
A typical day for a forestry professor might begin with a morning lecture on forest mensuration, teaching students how to estimate timber volume and stand density. After class, the professor might spend an hour in office hours advising a graduate student refining her thesis on bark beetle impacts in drought-stressed ponderlands. Late morning could involve leading an outdoor lab session where undergraduates practice using increment borers and clinometers in the campus research forest. Lunch meetings with department colleagues might focus on curriculum revision or planning a collaborative research proposal. Afternoon hours are often devoted to research, whether analyzing plot data, reviewing manuscripts for peer journals, or writing sections of a grant application. Some days include committee meetings covering tenure reviews, graduate admissions, or university sustainability initiatives. During field seasons, professors may spend extended periods at research sites supervising data collection. The pace varies between semesters, with summers often dedicated to intensive fieldwork, conference travel, and course preparation.
Work Environment
Postsecondary forestry professors enjoy a unique work environment that blends traditional academia with significant outdoor and field components. Teaching spaces range from lecture halls and computer labs to university-owned forests and research stations. Many forestry programs maintain dedicated research forests where faculty and students conduct long-term studies. Field-based courses involve leading students on multi-day trips to diverse forest types, often requiring camping and backcountry travel. Office and lab time includes data analysis, manuscript writing, grant administration, and student mentoring. The academic calendar provides structured semesters with breaks and sabbaticals that support intensive research and professional travel. Conference attendance takes faculty to destinations across the country and internationally, connecting them with the broader scientific community. Forestry departments tend to be smaller and more collegial than many academic units, fostering close faculty-student relationships. University employment includes comprehensive benefits, retirement plans, and often subsidized housing in college towns.
Career Path & Advancement
Becoming a postsecondary forestry and conservation science teacher requires a doctoral degree in forestry, forest ecology, conservation biology, or a closely related field. Most candidates begin with a bachelor's degree in forestry or environmental science from an accredited program, followed by a master's degree involving thesis research. Doctoral programs typically require four to six years and include original research, teaching assistantship experience, and publication of peer-reviewed articles. Postdoctoral positions allow new PhDs to build their research portfolios and establish funding track records before applying for faculty roles. The academic job market is competitive, with candidates typically needing multiple publications, grant experience, and a well-defined research program. Assistant professors work toward tenure over a five to seven year probationary period, evaluated on research productivity, teaching effectiveness, and service contributions. Advancement through associate and full professor ranks follows successful tenure. Some faculty ultimately serve as department heads, associate deans, or directors of research centers and field stations.
Specializations
Postsecondary forestry professors specialize across a wide range of subdisciplines reflecting the breadth of forest science. Silviculture specialists study how to grow, tend, and regenerate forests using various cutting and planting methods optimized for different objectives. Forest ecologists examine the complex relationships among trees, plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms within forest ecosystems. Forest genetics researchers develop improved tree varieties through breeding programs and increasingly through genomic approaches. Fire ecologists study the role of fire in forest ecosystems and develop science-based prescribed burning prescriptions. Forest hydrology professors research how forests influence water quantity, quality, and timing in watersheds. Geospatial science faculty teach remote sensing, LiDAR analysis, and GIS applications in forest management. Conservation biology professors focus on biodiversity protection, landscape connectivity, and endangered species management. Forest economics and policy faculty analyze market dynamics, land valuation, and regulatory frameworks governing natural resources.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- ✓High median salary of over $100,000 for experienced faculty
- ✓Combines intellectual work with outdoor fieldwork and research
- ✓Summers and sabbaticals provide time for intensive research and travel
- ✓Meaningful impact training future conservation and forestry professionals
- ✓Access to university research forests and field stations
- ✓Strong benefits and job security with tenure
- ✓Growing relevance of forestry science to climate and wildfire challenges
Challenges
- ✗Doctoral degree requires substantial time and financial investment
- ✗Competitive academic job market with limited tenure-track openings
- ✗Publish-or-perish pressure can cause stress and work-life imbalance
- ✗Forestry programs at some institutions face enrollment challenges
- ✗Geographic limitation to locations with forestry programs
- ✗Grant writing and bureaucratic requirements consume substantial time
- ✗Balancing teaching, research, and service demands is challenging
Industry Insight
Forestry education is evolving rapidly to address emerging challenges and opportunities in natural resource management. Climate change, wildfire management, and forest carbon sequestration have become central themes reshaping curricula across forestry programs. Enrollment in traditional forestry programs has fluctuated, but programs that have rebranded or expanded to include sustainability, ecosystem services, and environmental science have seen stronger interest. The integration of technology, including drones, LiDAR, machine learning, and molecular tools, is transforming both research and instruction. Federal research funding for forestry has increased in response to wildfire, reforestation, and climate adaptation priorities. Interdisciplinary collaboration is increasingly expected, with forestry faculty partnering with computer scientists, social scientists, and engineers. The retirement of senior faculty is creating openings, though institutions sometimes replace tenure-track lines with adjunct or fixed-term positions. Community colleges and technical schools are expanding their forestry technician programs, creating demand for instructors with applied expertise.
How to Break Into This Career
Aspiring forestry professors should begin building their academic credentials early by pursuing research opportunities as undergraduates. Identifying a niche research area that addresses an emerging need, such as climate adaptation or wildfire ecology, helps distinguish candidates in a competitive market. Publishing early and often during graduate study demonstrates research productivity to hiring committees. Teaching assistantships and developing an independent teaching record are essential, as many forestry programs weight teaching heavily in hiring decisions. Attending conferences like the Society of American Foresters national convention and Ecological Society of America annual meeting builds visibility and professional networks. Securing competitive grants or fellowships during doctoral or postdoctoral studies signals the ability to fund an independent research program. Building relationships with forestry professionals and agencies creates partnerships that strengthen future research proposals. Candidates who bring practical forestry experience from industry or agency work alongside academic credentials are often particularly valued.
Career Pivot Tips
Experienced foresters and natural resource managers bring invaluable field credibility and applied knowledge to academic positions. Wildlife biologists and ecologists working in forest systems can pivot by expanding their expertise into forest management topics. Research scientists at government agencies like the U.S. Forest Service Research Stations may transition to academic roles by leveraging their publication records. Environmental consultants with specialized expertise in areas like wetland ecology, timber appraisal, or GIS can fill teaching needs in professional programs. Professionals with technology backgrounds in remote sensing, data science, or spatial analysis are increasingly recruited by forestry departments. The critical pivot requirement is typically completing a doctoral degree, though some technical or community college positions accept master's degrees with extensive experience. Building a teaching portfolio through guest lectures, workshops, or adjunct positions demonstrates pedagogical capability. Professional certifications and active membership in organizations like the Society of American Foresters strengthen candidacy.
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