Also called: Forest Health Specialist, Forest Pathologist
Protects forests from insects and diseases like bark beetles, emerald ash borer, and sudden oak death.
A forest health specialist surveys dying trees from the air and on foot, sets insect traps, and studies how drought makes forests vulnerable. They advise the U.S. Forest Service and state agencies on how to respond.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 8 years after high school. Bachelor's in forestry or biology, then a master's or PhD.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Forestry, Entomology, Plant Pathology.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). BLS 2025-35 projection band for SOC 19-1029: Faster than average (5% to 6%).
Low risk for 10 years. AI spots dying trees from satellites; field diagnosis and research on new pests and diseases stay human.
Classes: AP Biology, Chemistry, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1029.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.