Jobs Similar to Foresters
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to foresters, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers, Range Managers and Environmental Restoration Planners.
Foresters: $76,400 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Foresters) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 82% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Range ManagersSame group | 80% | $73,010Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Environmental Restoration Planners | 80% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Conservation ScientistsSame group | 80% | $73,010−4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsSame group | 78% | $76,7800% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 75% | $82,220+8% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | 74% | $55,090−28% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | 73% | $106,220+39% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Soil and Plant ScientistsSame group | 73% | $78,850+3% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Environmental Engineers | 73% | $107,110+40% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Forest and Conservation Technicians | 73% | $54,560−29% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Petroleum Engineers | 72% | $144,910+90% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 72% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Water Resource Specialists | 72% | $167,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | 72% | $115,160+51% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Fish and Game Wardens | 72% | $74,060−3% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Water/Wastewater Engineers | 71% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Airfield Operations Specialists | 71% | $56,850−26% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | 71% | $61,560−19% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Government Property Inspectors and Investigators | 70% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
- 1Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
82% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Range Managers
80% similar · $73,010 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Environmental Restoration Planners
80% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 4Conservation Scientists
80% similar · $73,010 (−4%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
78% similar · $76,780 (0%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
75% similar · $82,220 (+8%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
74% similar · $55,090 (−28%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
73% similar · $106,220 (+39%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Soil and Plant Scientists
73% similar · $78,850 (+3%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 10Environmental Engineers
73% similar · $107,110 (+40%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Forest and Conservation Technicians
73% similar · $54,560 (−29%) · Training or associate
- 12Petroleum Engineers
72% similar · $144,910 (+90%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Environmental Compliance Inspectors
72% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Water Resource Specialists
72% similar · $167,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
72% similar · $115,160 (+51%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Fish and Game Wardens
72% similar · $74,060 (−3%) · Training or associate
- 17Water/Wastewater Engineers
71% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Airfield Operations Specialists
71% similar · $56,850 (−26%) · Training or associate
- 19Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
71% similar · $61,560 (−19%) · Training or associate
- 20Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
70% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than foresters.
- Petroleum Engineers72% similar · $144,910 (+90%)
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors72% similar · $115,160 (+51%)
- Environmental Engineers73% similar · $107,110 (+40%)
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers73% similar · $106,220 (+39%)
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health75% similar · $82,220 (+8%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Forest and Conservation Technicians73% similar · Training or associate
- Fish and Game Wardens72% similar · Training or associate
- Airfield Operations Specialists71% similar · Training or associate
- Occupational Health and Safety Technicians71% similar · Training or associate
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators70% similar · Training or associate
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for foresters also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where foresters is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (86)
- Environmental Restoration Planners (81)
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (79)
- Forest and Conservation Technicians (78)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (74)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (72)
- Fish and Game Wardens (71)
- Water/Wastewater Engineers (71)
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists (70)
- Biofuels Production Managers (69)
Questions about jobs like foresters
What jobs are most similar to foresters?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (82% similar), Range Managers (80% similar), Environmental Restoration Planners (80% similar), Conservation Scientists (80% similar) and Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (78% similar).
Which jobs like foresters pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Engineers ($144,910, +90%; usually a bachelor's degree), Health and Safety Engineers ($115,160, +51%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Environmental Engineers ($107,110, +40%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with foresters ($76,400). Without more preparation than foresters usually need: Petroleum Engineers, Health and Safety Engineers and Environmental Engineers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.