Wood Science and Technology Workers
Overview
Introduction
Wood scientists and technologists experiment to find the most efficient ways of converting forest resources into useful products for consumers. Toward this end, they explore the physical, biological, and chemical properties of wood and the methods used in growing, processing, and using it. Wood science is conducted for both academic and industrial research and is carried out both in labs and on forest grounds.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Salary levels in the wood sciences depend on the individuals employer, experience, level of education, and work performed. According to Salary.com, the average starting salary for wood technologists was $43,302 in October 2020. Salaries ranged from $38,769 to $53,848.
Engineers employed in wood product manufacturing earned mean annual salaries of $75,840 in May 2019, according to the U.S...
Work Environment
Depending on the type of work they perform, wood science specialists operate in a variety of settings, from the office to the open forest. Wood scientists and researchers work in laboratories and, if they are on university faculty, in classrooms. Their experimental work may take them to tree farms and forests. Wood technologists and technicians may work in offices, manufacturing plants, sawmill...
Outlook
Wood technology is a relatively new science, with breakthroughs in products and technology occurring frequently. It is also a field in which the supply of qualified wood scientists and technologists is short of the demand. Therefore, the employment outlook for workers in this field is expected to be very good.
The demand for wood products is increasing rapidly. At the same time, the cos...