Forest Service employee pay and staffing
This page shows how many people were reported under Forest Service in the latest OPM workforce summary, what the average pay looks like, and which occupations make up the largest share of the agency.
What this page helps you check
Use this page when you want a quick feel for the size of Forest Service, where its workforce is concentrated, and which occupations account for the largest share of employees.
Parent organization
This agency sits under the Department of Agriculture.
Largest occupations in Forest Service
These occupation series account for the biggest share of employees reported under Forest Service.
| Occupation | Employees | Average pay | Share of agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forestry Technician | 10,449 | $54,709 | 32.0% |
| Miscellaneous Administration and Program | 3,158 | $98,738 | 9.7% |
| General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences | 2,334 | $101,157 | 7.2% |
| Forestry | 1,334 | $84,374 | 4.1% |
| Program Management | 710 | $131,052 | 2.2% |
| Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant | 681 | $50,754 | 2.1% |
| Human Resources Management | 595 | $93,268 | 1.8% |
| Civil Engineering | 585 | $101,512 | 1.8% |
| Wildlife Biology | 519 | $86,439 | 1.6% |
| Archeology | 506 | $80,524 | 1.6% |
| Engineering Equipment Operating | 470 | $69,266 | 1.4% |
| Realty | 451 | $86,972 | 1.4% |
| Wildland Fire Management | 439 | $92,056 | 1.3% |
| Biological Science Technician | 399 | $55,253 | 1.2% |
| "General Inspection, Investigation, Enforcement, and Compliance Series" | 391 | $80,335 | 1.2% |
| Contracting | 389 | $108,661 | 1.2% |
| General Business and Industry | 373 | $73,449 | 1.1% |
| Public Affairs | 369 | $100,218 | 1.1% |
| Information Technology Management | 343 | $112,034 | 1.1% |
| Support Services Administration | 338 | $57,534 | 1.0% |
Where Forest Service employees are based
This list shows the biggest duty-station states reported for Forest Service in the latest OPM summary.
| State | Employees | Average pay |
|---|---|---|
| California | 5,603 | $72,313 |
| Oregon | 3,114 | $77,827 |
| Montana | 2,345 | $77,641 |
| Idaho | 2,227 | $71,771 |
| New Mexico | 2,122 | $79,123 |
| Colorado | 1,805 | $87,348 |
| Arizona | 1,566 | $71,958 |
| Washington | 1,434 | $80,519 |
| Utah | 1,187 | $78,308 |
| Alaska | 678 | $90,576 |
Agency totals and duty-location summaries come from the latest OPM FedScope Employment Summary Data (March 2025).