[Site name]

Forest ranger

Also called woodland ranger, woodland officer, forestry officer

Forest rangers are responsible for the protection and conservation of natural resources, particularly in regards to forests and woodlands.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospectsShortage in 11 countries now. 21 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workersWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €700 (Bulgaria) to €7,500 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational5 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 5 in 10 train through vocational routes.Market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workersWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Forestry and related workers · ILO

What you'd do

Forestry and related workers · ILO
  • Assessing sites for reforestation, selecting seedlings and planting trees using manual planting tools and establishing and caring for forest stands
  • Locating trees to be felled and estimating volume of timber
  • Operating chainsaw and other power saws to thin young forest stands, trim, top and fell trees and saw them into logs
  • Shaping rough wooden products from logs at felling site
  • Stacking logs and loading them in chutes or floating them down rivers
  • Keeping watch to detect forest fires, participating in firefighting operations, completing firefighting reports and maintaining firefighting equipment
  • Controlling weeds and undergrowth in regenerating forest stands using manual tools and chemicals
  • Operating and maintaining a skidder, bulldozer or other prime mover to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated
  • Collecting seed cones, pruning trees, assisting in planting surveys and marking trees for subsequent operations
  • Training and supervising other workers in forestry procedures, including forestry labourers and plant operators
Assist forest visitorsEnforce park rulesOversee park land useMake decisions regarding forestry managementPerform park safety inspections+ 6 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors and outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Lots of contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Forest and Conservation Workers"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

11 EU countries are short of forestry and related workers now, but fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workers in the EU
371k340k304k 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
97,000 replacing leavers 28,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workers21
All jobs29
Right now
11 of 27 countries report a shortage of forestry and related workers, 6 a surplus.
Forestry and related workers · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €700 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,500 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers in the EU, women earn 16% more per hour than men. Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in forestry is the usual route.

Highest qualification of market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 12%Vocational 44%General secondary 10%Basic schooling 34%
Field that teaches it
Forestry
Vocational route, EU
5 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.12 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 10 tasks
Training and supervising other workers in forestry procedures, including forestry labourers and plant operators0.21
Keeping watch to detect forest fires, participating in firefighting operations, completing firefighting reports and maintaining firefighting equipment0.17
Operating and maintaining a skidder, bulldozer or other prime mover to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated0.17
Assessing sites for reforestation, selecting seedlings and planting trees using manual planting tools and establishing and caring for forest stands0.12
Locating trees to be felled and estimating volume of timber0.12
Collecting seed cones, pruning trees, assisting in planting surveys and marking trees for subsequent operations0.10
Controlling weeds and undergrowth in regenerating forest stands using manual tools and chemicals0.08
Shaping rough wooden products from logs at felling site0.08
Operating chainsaw and other power saws to thin young forest stands, trim, top and fell trees and saw them into logs0.07
Stacking logs and loading them in chutes or floating them down rivers0.07

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for forestry and related workers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).