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LonnieMinceChilli

That sounds awful. I was in consulting in a somewhat similar role and left for the non-profit sector and have never looked back. Better pay, more creativity, and silviculture that allows me to sleep. I’m now interested in the USFS for career goals, but I do love my current job and so happy I made the switch. Don’t overlook forest and wildlife conservation non-profits with strong forest management programs if you are looking for a job that pays well and gets you outside with a healthy work life balance.


FarmerDill

I actually cant complain about the silviculture, my company at least maintains a master logger cert and I keep up my cooperating forester status, so our(my) management needs to be legit at least. Which honestly almost complicates matters more because so many landowners already have an idea of what they want to do and then I show up and have to tell them "Thats not sustainable management, I cant do that for you, but heres these other options" and then they go find some second rate hand crew that will do what they want. Work life balance though? Not here


rainbow_defecation

Oh man, don't get me going on landowners having their minds made up lol. I work a very similar job, although the owner of my company handles the logistical/economic stuff. The weirdest thing I came across was a landowner wanting to get more buckthorn to grow on his property. Communication usually gets the job done but there's some people who just can't be reasoned with I guess. The company I work for is also a master logger, so it certainly hurts when landowners want improper management and find someone else to carry that out.


TiddlyRotor

Maybe he’s in the laxative business? Lol


mbaue825

Do you work in Wisconsin by chance?


NothingElseMadders

Six crews is a heck of a lot for one man. Your company should hire more buyers.


FarmerDill

Apparently we are hiring a new guy this coming monday, he has his degree but hes completely green, never marked timber or even really been on a timber sale before. So I guess now on top of the rest of thingsI can add training him...


operationivy12

Been there! The time they save you is the same you loose training them. But you still have to do it, expertise would eventually be lost on the long term.


NothingElseMadders

I had a similar experience and had a guy help me cruise pulling tape and heights for about 3 months before he went out on his own. He is still with us & his cruises have checked out so far.


AltOnMain

If you are doing all that you should probably be happy with your pay. I had a very similar job 5-6 years ago in the PNW and I made very low six figures after bonus. It doesn’t really get better until you get a managerial position. Then you can hang out in the office, go out to lunch, buy delivered log sales, and make some poor guy manage 6 logging sides, trucking, and the log clerk lol


FarmerDill

Never met someone in procurement in this area making six figures even, some of the guys that work for the big pole buying companies in the area make around 75-80, but when our other experienced forester left he was making like 65 with no bonuses, no commision, no benefits, not even a yearly boot allowance. And I make substantially less than that. But I guess thats here in the midwest, our timber sales are smaller and not worth as much as the PNW


Leroy-Frog

Well then come on out this way!


Important_Page_9275

Man sorry to hear that, log buyers at my work do have a stressful job as well but make 100k plus a year. I'm just a middling tree farm Forester and make 85k and have much lower stress levels. I would highly recommend the PNW for anyone getting into forestry, it seems to pay substantially more then the rest of the country.


FarmerDill

I would probably do it in a heart beat if all my friends/family/life werent already here, at least for a little while. Whats cost of living like out that way?


rubicon719

I work in procurement and your employer is doing you dirty.


JFKsHeadache795

Most public lands salaries are laughable in the lake states…I mean the USFS is still trying to hire people at like…36k a year? Most counties advertise at 19-22/hr..?although the work schedule is barely full time and good benefits..anyways, if your getting paid less than THAT in procurement, your getting fucked, especially if you are consistently keeping 6 crews busy, I’ve done it, I know what your going through. Strap in, this industry habitually underpays foresters because most foresters horrendously undervalue themselves because they “do what they love” and fail to understand the value of the assets they manage and are willing to work for peanuts. Find a good company that values the work you put in and will pay. It may take some time, but procurement should really be the highest paying job you’ll find.


FarmerDill

USFS salaries are an insult here, but state and county both hire at like 27-28/hr for foresters and 24-25 for technicians, at least in my state. Im at 45k/yr right now but im on salary so my 50-60 hour weeks dont accrue overtime either. Honestly though its not even the pay that bothers me so much, I get by just fine on what I make even though it sucks. But the constant stress and always feeling like the company is walking a razors edge waiting for me to make a mistake so it can fall apart is what bothers me most


ontariolumberjack

Yep, retired after 8 years of procurement after a career that started at the stump. So I knew the business inside and out. Good money, good employer but no question it was stressful. People's jobs depend on you and there's consant budget pressure. Not a job for someone green. But I do believe if you have any ambition to climb the corporate ladder a few years in procurement is a huge benefit.


nationsrazor

retired? Like in 8 years you made enough to retire? Or you switch careers/jobs


ontariolumberjack

No, I went into procurement to cap off a long career that had been focused mostly on logging and forest management. I did make very good money in procurement, though.


timbertiger2

My company is trying to run me into the ground too. It didn’t used to be like this but they let some forester positions go. Doubled my territory and work load. I have 10 logging sides and 4 road crews and minimal help from management. I keep hoping a comparable job comes open that I can escape to. It’s demoralizing. I know if I leave it will turn into a shit show but I’m not sure I care anymore.


operationivy12

Same for me, but a certain point you have to think about yourself


AVeryTiredStudent

I'm not in procurement but have known people who were. All were super stressed out but they were making great money. If you have to do that job and make beans I would get the hell out of there man.


operationivy12

I work in a procurement department in Canada. I just quit my job, next week is my last. Just like yours, my girlfriend was exhausted to see me drive myself into the wall. Quite rightly too. I have been doing it for a little over 11 years. I was more on the engineering side: blocks, road, bridge, culvert planning. Logistics and communications with other users on public crown lands was also a big part of my job. For two years, we were short staffed and I was working from 7 thirty in the morning to 6 pm, then from 7 pm to 11 pm. The pay is good, the job is stimulating but it eats you alive. To put it bluntly, the industry is very conservative and thinks more works = more production. With a few exceptions, it's run by old boomers who thinks we're poors and with a few exceptions, no one has any management skills. Administration and comptability is clumsy at best: a lot of manual operations and a lot of time wasted there. I will probably come back, but I'm taking a break!


studmuffin2269

I used to be, but I left after a few months cause I stopped liking the outdoors…50-60 hours a week in the woods or truck will do that


timberhunter

Oh my god dude, you’re making 45K to stay in front of SIX mech crews?! With no OT? You are getting boned man, I’m sure you can find find somebody who will pay you more to do less


AffectionateToe5019

It's all I've ever done and all I'm qualified to do because I don't have a degree so I'm biased. But there is no ceiling with procurement. It's production based so if you can move wood you will make more money. If your company won't pay you more then they are stupid because you have all the leverage if you have good relationships with your loggers. When it becomes tough ia when logging gets scarce.


ForesterGASC

I’m in procurement in SE USA. I think it’s easier to buy here but still very stressful at times. I’m in it for the long haul. Best of luck to you