Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Education, Training, and Library · SOC 25-1043 · O*NET 25-1043.00

Median salary
$100,830
Rank #106 of ~830 BLS occupations
10-year growth
+4.0%
2024–2034, average
Employment
1.3M
BLS 2024
Projected 2034
1K
BLS projection
Official O*NET description

Teach courses in forestry and conservation science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary fall under the Education, Training, and Library category in the U.S. occupational classification. Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median salary of $100,830 per year, ranking in the top 13% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +4.0% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary earn?

The median annual wage for forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary is $100,830. That puts forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary at #106 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Full salary distribution (national, BLS 2024)
10th percentile (entry-level)$58,670
25th percentile$81,380
50th percentile (median)$100,830
75th percentile$125,080
90th percentile (top earners)$154,630

Is forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary is +4.0%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 1K positions in 2024 to 1K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

  1. 1.Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  2. 2.Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
  3. 3.Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  4. 4.Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  5. 5.Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
  6. 6.Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.
  7. 7.Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
  8. 8.Review papers for colleagues and scientific journals.

Top skills for forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

Instructing
4.3
Writing
4.1
Learning Strategies
4.1
Reading Comprehension
4.1
Speaking
4.0
Active Learning
4.0
Active Listening
4.0

What education does my child need to become forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary?

The standard path into forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Actual education levels of working forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary

Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.

Doctoral degree
62.7%
Post-doctoral training
22.1%
Master's degree
15.1%

Related careers your child might also consider

How parents help teens explore careers like this

Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.

Common questions parents ask about forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary

What is the median salary for forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary?

The median annual salary for forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary is $100,830 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Is forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary a growing career?

BLS projects +4.0% growth for forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.

What education does my child need to become forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary?

The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.

What careers are similar to forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary?

Related occupations within the Education, Training, and Library category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.

Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.