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US job code 19-1032High change by 2035

Foresters

Machines can already do 24% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 54%. The job changes before it disappears.

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Share of the work machines can do

Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050

100%75%50%25%20262035205024%Half: 2034

Foresters in 2026: the short answer

  • Today: machines can do 24% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
  • Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2034, and 54% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
  • Size: 10,430 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $76,400 a year.
  • Contact with people: it scores 66% for contact with people.
  • Also called: Area Forester, District Forester, Environmental Protection Forester, Fire Prevention Forester.

Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.

Machines can do today
24%of the tasks, 2026
By 2035
54%half the tasks by 2034
US median pay
$76,400a year, May 2025
US jobs
10k10,430 people
Contact with people
66%how people-facing
Step 1AnticipateWhat is changing? Free to everyone

How the work changes, task by task

The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.

TaskShare of the dayMachines can do2026 to 2035
Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations9%
3% to 30%
Map forest area soils and vegetation to estimate the amount of standing timber and future value and growth9%
45% to 85%
Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources8%
35% to 65%
Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals8%
35% to 65%
Perform inspections of forests or forest nurseries7%
45% to 85%
Plan and direct forest surveys and related studies and prepare reports and recommendations7%
22% to 48%
Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands5%
10% to 30%
Supervise activities of other forestry workers5%
10% to 30%
Step 2AssessWhy should I care? Free to everyone

The skills this job runs on

The skills foresters use most, most used first.

Professionalism and work ethicAnalysis and dataManagementPhysical and manualLeadershipMoral intelligence and integrityOperations and processAdaptability and resilienceCollaborationCommunicationLearning aptitude and mindsetCritical thinking and problem solvingEntrepreneurial mindsetInterpersonal skillsSelf-managementLegal knowledgeCreative and innovative thinkingEmotional intelligenceInterdisciplinary thinking

Safer jobs nearby

Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.

Step 3ActWhat do I do about it? Free plan and up
What do I do about it

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Questions

When will machines do half of the tasks of Foresters?

Machines can do half of its tasks by 2034. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.

Will AI take the job of foresters?

Machines can do 24% of the tasks of foresters today and 54% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.

Sources and citing

Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 19-1032.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.

Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Foresters: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/foresters/