Skip navigation
Back

Forestry Workers

Forestry workers perform a variety of tasks related to the planting, cultivation and protection of trees.

Wages

New workers
AVERAGE
Experienced
£11,017
£23,455
£35,078

New workers start around £11,017. Normal pay is £23,455 per year.
Highly experienced workers can earn up to £35,078.

Available jobs

In the past year there were 7,576 vacancies for this type of job

7.49%

Projected job growth over the next 8 years

Related courses

People work towards these careers by taking these courses at college and uni.

What they do most days?

  • Monitors and patrols forests and parks to maintain grounds and prevent unauthorised entry.

  • Operates machinery used in the cultivation and management of trees.

  • Maintains watch for fires and operates firefighting equipment.

  • Builds and maintains forest roads.

  • Assists in the control of harmful diseases, pests or forms of wildlife.

  • Cuts coppice, removes tops of standing trees and lops branches as necessary.

  • Fells trees using axe or power saw and saws wood into required lengths.

  • Collects seeds, plants and prunes trees and selects and marks trees for felling.

  • Drains and ploughs land and erects and maintains fences as necessary.

  • Prepares ground for planting by clearing vegetation and other debris.

Hard Skills

Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Arboriculture

  • Chainsaws

  • Pruning

  • Forestry

  • Risk Analysis

  • Tree Surveying

  • Machinery

  • Overhead Lines

  • Geographic Information Systems

  • AutoCAD

Soft Skills

Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Management

  • Communication

  • Operations

  • Planning

  • Customer Service

  • Enthusiasm

  • Teamwork

  • First Aid

  • Self-Motivation

  • English Language

How do I get a job like this?

People in these types of job started their career paths after studying courses like the ones below.

Routes to this career

See all

Forestry (Top-up)

University of Cumbria

BSc (Hons) · 1 Year · Full-time · Ambleside · 16/09/2024

Tariff points: N/A

Forestry

Bangor University

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Bangor, Gwynedd · 23/09/2024

Tariff points: 88/120

Forestry

SRUC Scotland's Rural College

HND · 2 Years · Full-time · Dumfries · 09/2024

Tariff points: 40/42

Agricultural Management (Top-Up)

University Centre Somerset - Bridgwater & Taunton College

BSc (Hons) · 1 Year · Full-time · Bridgwater · 16/09/2024

Tariff points: N/A

Biology

Aberystwyth University

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Aberystwyth · 23/09/2024

Tariff points: 104/120

Biology

University of Portsmouth

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Portsmouth · 23/09/2024

Tariff points: 112/120

Biology with Foundation Year

Keele University

BSc (Hons) · 4 Years · Full-time including foundation year · Keele · 09/2024

Tariff points: 56/56

Biology

Sheffield Hallam University

BSc (Hons) · 4 Years · Sandwich · Sheffield · 09/2024

Tariff points: 112/120

Geography (with placement)

University of Gloucestershire

BSc (Hons) · 4 Years · Sandwich · Cheltenham · 23/09/2024

Tariff points: 112/128

Forestry

University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)

HNC · 1 Year · Full-time · Inverness · 09/2024

Tariff points: 42/48

Animal Behaviour with Foundation Year

Liverpool John Moores University

BSc (Hons) · 4 Years · Full-time including foundation year · Liverpool · 16/09/2024

Tariff points: 80/80

Geography

University of Sussex

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Brighton · 23/09/2024

Tariff points: 120/147

Geography (with Foundation Year)

Liverpool Hope University

BSc (Hons) · 4 Years · Full-time including foundation year · Liverpool · 09/2024

Tariff points: 72/72

Wildlife and Conservation

Activate Learning

FdSc · 2 Years · Full-time · Guildford · 09/09/2024

Tariff points: 64/64

Related careers

Upholsterers

Chemical and Related Process Operatives

Mining and Quarry Workers and Related Operatives

Assemblers (Vehicles and Metal Goods)

Tyre, Exhaust and Windscreen Fitters

Production, Factory and Assembly Supervisors

Air Transport Operatives

Packers, Bottlers, Canners and Fillers

Warehouse Operatives

Delivery Operatives

Related industry guides

See all

Protective services