NOC 21111: Forestry professionals
What forestry professionals do
Forestry professionals conduct research, develop plans and administer and direct programs related to the management and harvesting of forest resources. They are employed by the forest industry, provincial and federal governments, consulting companies, educational institutions and other industries, or they may be self-employed.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Plan and direct forest surveys and related studies and prepare reports and recommendations
- Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources
- Plan and direct woodlands harvesting, reforestation, silviculture and fire prevention and fire suppression programs, road building, wildlife management, environmental protection and insect and vegetation control programs
- Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands
- Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities
- Ensure adherence to government regulations and company objectives
- Plan and conduct public relations programs, and education and extension programs related to forestry
- Develop and oversee programs for tree seedling production and woodlands nursery operations
- Conduct advanced research in the areas of tree improvement, nursery seedling production, forest soils, forest ecology, forest mensuration, forest operations and other areas
- Provide advice and recommendations, as a consultant on forestry issues, to private woodlot owners, municipal, provincial or federal governments or to companies.
Job titles under NOC 21111
21 job titles are classified here, including appraisal forester, consulting forester, district forester.
- appraisal forester
- consulting forester
- Crown lands forester
- district forester
- extension forester
- forest engineer
- forest nursery forester
- forester
- industrial forester
- operations forester
- parks and recreation forester
- private lands forester
- professional forester
- project forester
- regional forest inventory officer
- regional inventory officer - forestry
- registered professional forester (RPF)
- research forester
- superintendent - forestry
- unit forester
- urban forester
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in forestry or forestry engineering is required.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces except Prince Edward Island and Manitoba.
- A two-year practicum of supervised work experience and professional examinations are usually required before registration.
Forestry professionals wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $31.39/hr | $47.00/hr | $62.50/hr |
Toronto ON | $31.39/hr | $40.00/hr | $53.06/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $33.65/hr | $40.00/hr | $68.68/hr |
Edmonton AB | $31.79/hr | $45.87/hr | $63.99/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $35.00/hr | $49.00/hr | $57.69/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $31.39/hr | $40.00/hr | $53.06/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $33.65/hr | $40.00/hr | $68.68/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Nova Scotia | $31.22/hr | $44.66/hr | $64.03/hr |
New Brunswick | $28.39/hr | $41.27/hr | $60.81/hr |
Quebec | $35.00/hr | $49.00/hr | $57.69/hr |
Ontario | $31.39/hr | $40.00/hr | $53.06/hr |
Alberta | $30.58/hr | $45.88/hr | $65.54/hr |
British Columbia | $33.65/hr | $40.00/hr | $68.68/hr |
Using NOC 21111 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 21 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Forest economist (NOC 41401)
- Forestry operations manager (NOC 80010)
- Forestry policy director - government services (NOC 40011)
- Forestry programs manager - government services (NOC 40011)
- Research director - forestry (NOC 20011)
- Woodlands manager (NOC 80010)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for forestry professionals?
Forestry professionals are NOC 2021 unit group 21111. Example job titles in this group include appraisal forester, consulting forester, district forester, forester.
What TEER is NOC 21111?
NOC 21111 is TEER 1 (University degree). Usually requires a university degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate), or experience from a related TEER 2 occupation. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do forestry professionals earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $47.00/hr, about $92,000 a year full-time, with a range of $31.39/hr to $62.50/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.