Home Schools University of Florida Forestry
Natural Resources · Forestry Rank #28 of 29

Forestryat University of Florida

Graduates earn $26,838/yr in their first year — about 37.0% below the national Forestry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $524K; scenarios range from $491K to $527K depending on AI disruption.

Gainesville, FL Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
32 AT RISK
33
Optimistic
35
Pessimistic
Earnings
$26,838
1-year post-graduation
ROI
17.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$524K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
36% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Florida

While the University of Florida is a top-tier public institution, your career outcomes in forestry will be shaped more by the industry itself than by the UF brand. Forestry is a field dominated by public sector and land management roles, often with state and federal agencies or large timber companies. These positions are typically located in rural areas and offer modest starting salaries, reflecting government pay scales and the regional economies of the Southeast. The path isn't a direct pipeline to high-paying corporate jobs; it's a passion-driven career focused on conservation and resource management. To maximize your financial outlook, you must aggressively pursue summer internships with organizations like the U.S. Forest Service or private firms like Weyerhaeuser. These experiences are critical for securing the best entry-level positions after graduation.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$491K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score35/100
Earnings Multiple19.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$524K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score32/100
Earnings Multiple20.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$527K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score33/100
Earnings Multiple20.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Florida's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Forestry graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
+4.0% 10-yr growth · 100 openings/yr
$100,830/yr
Moderate
2
Foresters
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$70,660/yr
Moderate
3
Conservation scientists
+3.4% 10-yr growth · 2,500 openings/yr
$67,950/yr
High
4
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
+2.5% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$59,330/yr
Low
5
Forest and conservation technicians
-3.2% 10-yr growth · 3,900 openings/yr
$54,310/yr
Moderate
6
Forest and conservation workers
-4.7% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$43,680/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Forestry

How University of Florida stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
NC · Public
60
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
19.2x
ROI
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
58
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
15.5x
ROI
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
CA · Public
57
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
19.1x
ROI
Auburn University
AL · Public
50
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
11.0x
ROI
University of Idaho
ID · Public
52
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
16.1x
ROI
Also at University of Florida

Other top programs at University of Florida

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Florida, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Forestry offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Forestry trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Forestry at University of Florida

How does University of Florida's Forestry program score?

This program scores 32/100 — on the lower end for Forestry. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

Why are Forestry earnings lower at University of Florida?

Lower starting pay at University of Florida may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.