Home / Federal careers / GS-0460
Forestry
Performs professional forestry work including forest management, timber sales, and forest resource protection.
What GS-0460 pays
2025 base rates, before locality. Most federal employees add a locality adjustment on top.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,454 | $35,603 | $36,752 | $37,901 | $39,050 | $40,199 | $41,348 | $42,497 | $43,646 | $44,786 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
| GS-11 | $63,163 | $65,268 | $67,373 | $69,478 | $71,583 | $73,688 | $75,793 | $77,898 | $80,003 | $82,108 |
| GS-12 | $75,706 | $78,229 | $80,752 | $83,275 | $85,798 | $88,321 | $90,844 | $93,367 | $95,890 | $98,422 |
| GS-13 | $90,025 | $93,026 | $96,027 | $99,028 | $102,029 | $105,030 | $108,031 | $111,032 | $114,033 | $117,034 |
Base pay only. Locality pay adds 15 to 40 percent or more depending on where the job sits. Source: OPM 2025 General Schedule.
Qualification requirements
OPM's standard for GS-0460, as written.
Degree: forestry; or a related subject-matter field that included a total of at least 30 semester hours in any combination of biological, physical, or mathematical sciences or engineering, of which at least 24 semester hours of course work were in forestry. The curriculum must have been sufficiently diversified to include courses in each of the following areas:
Management of Renewable Resources -- study of the science and art of managing renewable resources to attain desired results. Examples of creditable courses in this area include silviculture, forest management operations, timber management, wildland fire science or fire management, utilization of forest resources, forest regulation, recreational land management, watershed management, and wildlife or range habitat management.
Forest Biology -- study of the classification, distribution, characteristics, and identification of forest vegetation, and the interrelationships of living organisms to the forest environment. Examples of creditable courses in this area include dendrology, forest ecology, silvics, forest genetics, wood structure and properties, forest soils, forest entomology, and forest pathology.
Forest Resource Measurements and Inventory -- sampling, inventory, measurement, and analysis techniques as applied to a variety of forest resources. Examples of creditable courses include forest biometrics, forest mensuration, forest valuation, statistical analysis of forest resource data, renewable natural resources inventories and analysis, and photogrammetry or remote sensing.
OR
Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in forestry, or at least 30 semester hours in any combination of biological, physical, or mathematical sciences or engineering, of which at least 24 semester hours were in forestry. The requirements for diversification of the 24 semester hours in forestry are the same as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Applicants for Forester (Administration) or Research Forester (Administration) must have completed either the requirements described in A or B above; or the minimum educational requirements established for other forestry-related professional disciplines, e.g., Range Conservationist, GS-454; Soil Scientist, GS-470; Wildlife Biologist, GS-486; Geologist, GS-1350; Landscape Architect, GS-807; Hydrologist, GS-1315; or the full 4-year college requirements described for All Professional Engineering Positions, GS-800, provided that the basic professional training was supplemented by a sufficient amount of professional experience gained in a forestry work situation. The supplemental experience must have been gained in a work situation where the program or project required the joint application of full professional knowledge of forestry and the related professions in the solving of highly technical and complex problems; where the work was largely concerned with the planning, developmental, and administrative phases of multiple-use, forest land management programs; or with the carrying out of related research or special projects of a similar nature.
What this means if you served
- Write the duties, not the billet. OPM credits military experience on the work performed, and does not use rank or pay to judge specialized experience.
- Put the training and certifications you earned in service on the page. They count here.
- Claim your veterans preference on the application. It is not applied for you.
- No positive education requirement here, so qualifying experience can stand in for the education.
How to qualify for GS-0460
1Review Qualification Requirements
Read the OPM qualification standards above to understand the education and experience requirements for your target grade level.
2Find Your Grade Level
Grade follows the scope and complexity of the work you can document against the announcement, not the rank you held. OPM does not use military rank or pay when it evaluates specialized experience. Roughly: GS-5 entry, GS-7/9 junior, GS-11/12 journey, GS-13 and up senior.
3Gather Documentation
Collect your DD-214, SF-50 (if applicable), transcripts, certifications, and any training records that demonstrate your qualifications.
4Build Your Federal Resume
Two pages. USAJOBS has enforced that limit since 27 September 2025 and will not accept a longer resume from a Title 5 agency posting, so the space has to answer every qualification requirement. Include hours worked per week, supervisor contact details, and the accomplishments with numbers on them.
5Apply on USAJOBS
Search for open positions, carefully answer all assessment questions, and submit your application before the closing date.
Military jobs that map to this series
Geospatial Engineer
Geospatial Engineers have experience in land analysis and resource management, which aligns well with forest management tasks.
Skills that carry over: Land Surveying, Data Analysis, Environmental Assessment.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
UAV Sensor Operator
While primarily focused on aerial reconnaissance, UAV Sensor Operators gain skills in environmental monitoring that can be applied to forest health assessments.
Skills that carry over: Environmental Monitoring, Data Collection, Remote Sensing.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS) Operator
UAV Operators' skills in aerial surveillance and data analysis can be leveraged for monitoring forest health and planning reforestation activities.
Skills that carry over: Aerial Surveillance, Data Analysis, Environmental Monitoring.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Your record can qualify you even when your code is not on this list. The crosswalk is a starting point, not the gate.
Typical duties
- Develop forest management plans
- Administer timber sales
- Monitor forest health
- Plan reforestation activities
- Assess environmental impacts
- Manage wildfire risks
Key competencies
Silviculture
Knowledge of forest management principles.
Forest Inventory
Skill in timber cruising and assessment.
Fire Management
Understanding of wildfire prevention and suppression.
Ecosystem Management
Knowledge of forest ecology and health.
Planning
Ability to develop forest management plans.
Regulatory Knowledge
Understanding of forest management laws.
Words the announcement will use
Use the ones your record actually supports. A rater is matching your experience against the specialized experience statement, and a keyword with nothing behind it does not survive that.
Questions about GS-0460
What is a Forester?
A GS-0460 Forester manages forest resources including timber, wildlife habitat, recreation, and watershed protection. Federal foresters work primarily for the Forest Service and BLM, managing millions of acres of public lands.
How much does a federal Forester make?
Foresters earn between $42,679 (GS-7 Step 1) and $117,034 (GS-13 Step 10) under the 2025 GS pay scale. Most positions are GS-9/11/12, earning $52,205-$98,422 annually. Remote duty stations may include additional benefits.
What are the requirements for GS-0460 positions?
GS-0460 positions require a bachelor's degree in forestry or related natural resource field with specific coursework requirements. SAF-accredited forestry programs meet requirements. Higher grades require progressively more specialized forest management experience.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0460?
Military experience cannot substitute for required forestry education. However, veterans with forestry degrees who served in environmental or natural resource roles have applicable backgrounds. Military leadership and outdoor skills complement academic credentials.
What is the career progression for Forester?
The career ladder typically follows GS-7/9/11/12/13 intervals. Entry-level foresters manage timber sales and surveys. GS-11/12 foresters manage ranger districts. Senior foresters lead forest-wide programs and supervise multiple districts.
How do I apply for GS-0460 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for 'Forester' or '0460' series. The Forest Service is the largest employer. Your federal resume should detail specific forestry experience, silviculture knowledge, and resource management skills. Be prepared for positions in rural areas.
Ready to apply for GS-0460?
A rater matches your record against the announcement's specialized experience statement, inside two pages. BMR writes that shape from your own experience: competency headers, real scope, hours per week, and the supervisor detail the rater checks.