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
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.
| 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.Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- 2.Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics, such as forest resource policy, forest pathology, and mapping.
- 3.Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- 4.Supervise students' laboratory or field work.
- 5.Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- 6.Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- 7.Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- 8.Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
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.
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.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
- Law Teachers, Postsecondary$126,650 median
- Economics Teachers, Postsecondary$119,980 median
- Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$106,120 median
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$105,620 median
- Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary$101,480 median
- Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$101,390 median
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.