Work. Play. Renew.

08/28

Renowned for their unique beauty, the forests of Oregon see millions of travelers from all across the world. Each year, these visitors come from thousands of miles away to enjoy the clean air, cool water and the bounty of plant and animal life that call the area home. There are a lucky few, however, for whom the forests of Oregon are more than just a place to spend the weekend. The forest is their livelihood. These men and women work the forestry jobs Oregon depends on to keep our precious natural resources healthy and thriving.

Oregon Forests Forever seeks to connect individuals with jobs in the forestry business, both for the sake of protecting the forests themselves, as well as taking advantage of all the economic benefits that these forests provide. Below, we’ve offered seven examples of forestry jobs that can be found in the great state of Oregon:

1. Logging Crew Member

The state of Oregon provides a full 16.5 percent of the country’s lumber production, which means that individuals willing and able to work in the forestry industry will always be in high demand. You will help to harvest some of the billions of board feet and other raw materials that the country depends on.

Those choosing to pursue a job in logging should be able to perform physically demanding work, including the use of power tools and other heavy equipment. This is the perfect job for someone who doesn’t like to sit at a desk all day. You can expect to earn up to $56,000 a year working on a logging crew.

2. Log Truck Driver

As we mentioned above, the forests of Oregon provide lumber for the entire country, meaning that someone has to transport all that wood to mills that turn logs into lumber. This is where log truck drivers come in: those brave individuals who are trained to handle 18-wheelers and other heavy-duty vehicles across every type of terrain you can imagine.

To be considered for this adventurous career path, you must first earn your commercial driver’s license (CDL). Once you have done so, you may find a lucrative and rewarding job that quite literally takes you off the beaten path. Usually, logging truck drivers earn up to $46,000 a year.

3. Field Forester

If you want to spend your days surrounded by wildlife, taking in the sights, smells and sounds of the Oregon woodlands, then the job of field forester might just be the perfect one for you. It’s a job for those who simply love the forest, and it’s a particularly versatile job as well.

The job of “forester” is actually an extremely broad category: you might be responsible for collecting data on plant growth, or you may be tasked with helping to control pest outbreaks that are putting certain areas at risk. Expect to earn as much as $71,000 a year working as a forester.

4. Wildlife Biologist

The people of Oregon have something of a symbiotic relationship with our forests; that is, the forests provide resources for us, and we are in turn responsible for taking care of the forests. Part of this responsibility involves ensuring that the plant and animal populations that call the Oregon forests home remain healthy. This is where wildlife biologists come in.

As a wildlife biologist, you’ll be responsible for studying the behavior of the native animals living in the forests. You’ll use the data you collect to determine if both public and private organizations are in compliance with local and federal conservation laws. Expect to earn anywhere from $50,000 to $76,000 a year as a wildlife biologist.

5. Forest Engineer

If you have a mind for the technical or you’re a person who simply loves problem-solving, then you may just find your passion working as a forest engineer. Individuals whose strengths lie in science and mathematics can put their skills to work helping to design bridges, roads and other infrastructure in order to facilitate logging and other crucial economic activities.

Don’t let the idea that this is a mathematics-heavy job mislead you into thinking you’ll simply be sitting in an office all day. While that element of the job does exist, there’s also plenty of work to be done in the field, meaning you’ll get to spend a significant amount of time in the forest each week. Forest engineers can earn as much as $99,000 a year.

6. Wildland Firefighter

A very important forestry job that Oregon depends on is that of wildland firefighter. After all, the forests are highly vulnerable to wildfires, especially during times of drought. Some of these fires are caused naturally, such as by lightning strikes. Others are caused by human activity, which can mean anything from a downed power line to an improperly extinguished campfire. Regardless of the cause, if enough dry brush, fallen leaves and other possible fuel sources have accumulated, a fire can quickly spread out of control. Left unchecked, it can do a great deal of damage and threaten nearby human habitations. As a wildland firefighter, you’ll help to mitigate the damage that occurs while also protecting homes that are near the forests.

Those who can rise to the challenges of this demanding job can expect to earn up to $67,000 a year.

7. Nursery Manager

Whether they’ve been harvested as part of normal logging operations, been lost in a wildfire or simply died of natural causes, Oregon’s trees will need to be regularly replaced with new growth. Landowners who harvest trees are also required to replace them, which often means securing the services of a nursery manager.

Should you choose this career path, you’ll take part in planting some of the millions of new trees that are grown in Oregon each year. You’ll encourage their growth and help them to take hold so that they can offer their benefits to future generations. Nursery managers earn up to $69,000 a year.

If any of these or other forestry jobs in Oregon sound intriguing to you, consider signing up to join our campaign, Oregon Forests Forever. We’ll help to connect you with like-minded individuals who love the forests and seek to promote sustainable practices so that all of us can reap the social, emotional and economic benefits of the Oregon forests for generations to come.