Forest Ecologist Jobs in California

Forest Ecologist jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with steady demand from state and federal agencies, timber companies, environmental consulting firms, and conservation nonprofits at every level from field technician entry roles through senior scientist. The largest concentrations of openings are in Sacramento, Redding, and the San Francisco Bay Area, where employers such as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the U.S. Forest Service, and AECOM maintain long-term hiring pipelines. The most sought-after specialties in California are wildfire ecology, forest carbon monitoring, and watershed restoration. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles87+
Top employerTahoe Forest Health System
Top cityLake Forest, CA
Cities hiring2
Work type91% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 87+ Forest Ecologist jobs

Tahoe Forest Health System
Sports Technician
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Tahoe Forest Health System
Added 5d ago
Sports Technician
Tahoe Forest Health System
Truckee, California
Nursing
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$34.06/hr
On-Site
Associate's
501-1,000

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Tahoe Forest Health System
HRIS Specialist
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Tahoe Forest Health System
Added 1w ago
HRIS Specialist
Tahoe Forest Health System
Truckee, California
Human Resources
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Project & Program Management
$111k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's
501-1,000

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Tahoe Forest Health System
Medical Receptionist/Medical Assistant
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Tahoe Forest Health System
Added 1w ago
Medical Receptionist/Medical Assistant
Tahoe Forest Health System
Truckee, California
Nursing
Clinical Support
Healthcare Administration
Medical Assistant
Patient Services & Wellbeing
Administrative & Office Support
$28.65/hr
On-Site
None
501-1,000

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Tahoe Forest Health System
Registration Coordinator
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Tahoe Forest Health System
Added 1w ago
Registration Coordinator
Tahoe Forest Health System
Truckee, California
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Healthcare Administration
Customer Service & Support
Learning & Development
$27.08/hr
On-Site
None
501-1,000

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Tahoe Forest Health System
Staff Nurse - Women & Family
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Tahoe Forest Health System
Added 2w ago
Staff Nurse - Women & Family
Tahoe Forest Health System
Truckee, California
Nursing
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$68.46/hr
On-Site
Associate's
501-1,000

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See All 87 Forest Ecologist Jobs in California

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Forest Ecologist Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Lake Forest
65 jobs
Truckee
22 jobs

Forest Ecologist Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Tahoe Forest Health System
    Tahoe Forest Health System22
  • Applied Medical
    Applied Medical8
  • Advantest
    Advantest6
  • STAAR Surgical
    STAAR Surgical6
  • AVEVA
    AVEVA5

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services25
  • Medical Devices14
  • Non-Profit & Social Services12
  • Electronics & Hardware11
  • Technology & Software11

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in forest ecologist jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in forestry, ecology, or a closely related natural resource science
  • Familiarity with California Forest Practice Act regulations and CALFIRE reporting requirements
  • Experience conducting field surveys and vegetation sampling in California forest ecosystems
  • Proficiency in GIS software such as ArcGIS for mapping and spatial analysis of forest data
  • Valid California driver's license and ability to access remote field sites year-round
  • Strong technical writing skills for preparing environmental reports and agency permit documentation

Forest Ecologist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a forest ecologist in California?

Most forest ecologist positions in California require at minimum a bachelor's degree in forestry, ecology, or a related field, with many agency and consulting roles preferring a master's degree. California does not issue a single state license specific to forest ecologists, but roles tied to timber harvest plans often require a Registered Professional Forester credential through the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. Building field experience through internships with CALFIRE or the U.S. Forest Service is a common and practical first step.

How much do forest ecologists make in California?

Forest ecologists in California earn a median of about $106,510 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $65,350 for the lowest 10% to over $161,910 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire forest ecologists in California?

Employers hiring forest ecologists in California right now include Tahoe Forest Health System, Applied Medical, and Advantest, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's combination of state forestry agencies, large federal land management units, and active environmental consulting sector means hiring is distributed across both public and private employers throughout the state.

Which California cities have the most forest ecologist jobs?

The California cities with the most forest ecologist openings are Lake Forest and Truckee. Sacramento anchors much of the hiring because it is home to CALFIRE headquarters and numerous state natural resource agencies, while Redding sits at the gateway to California's northern timber country, and the Bay Area hosts a dense cluster of environmental consulting firms and conservation organizations.

Are there remote forest ecologist jobs in California?

Yes, but they're rare. About 9% of forest ecologist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, which reflects how field-dependent the work tends to be. The portions of the role most compatible with remote arrangements are data analysis, GIS mapping, report writing, and grant management, while field surveys, site assessments, and monitoring work consistently require an in-person presence.

How can I get hired as a forest ecologist in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a seasonal field technician position with CALFIRE or the U.S. Forest Service's California regional units, where new graduates regularly start without prior professional experience. California State University campuses with strong natural resources programs, such as Humboldt and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, maintain direct pipelines into these seasonal roles. Earning a Registered Professional Forester-in-Training designation and building a portfolio of field survey work or GIS projects can separate candidates for competitive permanent openings.

Where can I find and apply to forest ecologist jobs in California?

You can find and apply to forest ecologist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience, location, and specialty, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 87 Forest Ecologist Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Forest Ecologist Jobs