Careers in the Forest Products Industry

Minnesota’s forest products industry provides excellent career opportunities for high school graduates, trades people, men and women who are mechanically inclined, post-secondary graduates and more. No matter your education or interest, there’s a career here for you!

Minnesota’s forest provide opportunities for a wide variety of rewarding careers.

That’s because the worldwide popularity of Minnesota’s forest products means there will continue to be a need for talented men and women to play many vital roles in these and other areas:

  • Accountant
  • Biologist
  • Boiler engineer
  • Chemical engineer
  • Communications specialist
  • Conservationist
  • Diesel mechanic
  • Ecologist
  • Electrical engineer
  • Electrician
  • Environmental planner
  • Financial analyst
  • Forest fire fighter
  • Forester
  • Furniture maker
  • Habitat manager
  • Heavy equipment operator
  • Human resources
  • Information technology
  • Logger
  • Lumber grader
  • Machinist
  • Maintenance engineer
  • Mechanical engineer
  • Millwright
  • Nurse
  • Office professional
  • Pipe fitter
  • Plumber
  • Process engineer
  • Pulp and paper specialist
  • Purchasing agent
  • Quality control technician
  • Researcher
  • Resin technologist
  • Safety engineer
  • Sales representative
  • Sawfiler
  • Sawmill supervisor
  • Surveyor
  • Trucker
  • Waste management operator
  • Welder
  • Wildlife biologist
  • Wood technologist

Forestry schools in Minnesota

Minnesota has several excellent post-secondary schools dedicated to forestry education, making it convenient for you to gain the skills needed close to home.

Click on the logos below to learn more about what each school offers.


Itasca Community College
Grand Rapids, MN


University of Minnesota
Twin Cities


Northwest Technical College
Bemidji, MN


Vermilion Community College
Ely, MN

Classes to take in high school

It’s not too early to start planning if you’re thinking of a career in forestry or the forest products industry. Ask you school counselor for more specific information, but some courses that would be valuable to you include these:

  • Algebra
  • Biology
  • Calculus
  • Career and Technical Education
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Earth Science
  • Environmental Science
  • Introduction to Natural Resources
  • Math
  • Outdoor Studies
  • Trade and Industrial Education
  • Trigonometry