The average salary for a forester in the United States is around $30,865 per year.
Avg Salary
Foresters earn an average yearly salary of $30,865.
Wages typically start from $21,408 and go up to $44,501.
51% below national average Updated in 2023
Forester earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level forester earnings begin at:
$21.39 per hour
$44,501 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level forester earnings begin at:
$17.99 per hour
$37,420 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level forester earnings begin at:
$14.84 per hour
$30,865 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level forester earnings begin at:
$12.24 per hour
$25,459 per year
10th percentile
Starting level forester earnings begin at:
$10.29 per hour
$21,408 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Forester salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $98,750 |
| Illinois | $82,860 |
| Washington | $79,000 |
| Connecticut | $78,990 |
| Nebraska | $76,730 |
| Iowa | $76,560 |
| Louisiana | $76,390 |
| Alaska | $75,660 |
| New York | $75,510 |
| Massachusetts | $74,870 |
| California | $74,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,080 |
| Michigan | $72,800 |
| Oregon | $72,100 |
| Maryland | $69,650 |
| New Mexico | $67,200 |
| Georgia | $65,710 |
| Alabama | $65,680 |
| Ohio | $64,890 |
| Minnesota | $64,250 |
| Virginia | $64,010 |
| North Carolina | $63,750 |
| Vermont | $63,750 |
| Wyoming | $63,390 |
| Montana | $63,110 |
| Nevada | $62,720 |
| Idaho | $62,340 |
| New Hampshire | $61,890 |
| West Virginia | $61,720 |
| Colorado | $61,190 |
| Wisconsin | $60,500 |
| Indiana | $60,100 |
| Florida | $59,240 |
| Utah | $57,800 |
| Tennessee | $57,600 |
| South Carolina | $57,390 |
| Arizona | $56,990 |
| Arkansas | $53,410 |
| Maine | $52,520 |
| North Dakota | $51,750 |
| South Dakota | $51,710 |
| Missouri | $50,100 |
| Oklahoma | $50,100 |
| Texas | $46,670 |
| Kentucky | $40,290 |
| Mississippi | $38,570 |
| District of Columbia | $104,100 |
How do forester salaries compare to similar careers?
Foresters earn 28% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than biomass plant technicians but more than forest and conservation workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Biomass plant technician salary | $58K |
| Environmental consultant salary | $54K |
| Conservation scientist salary | $49K |
| Geothermal technician salary | $46K |
| Logging worker salary | $33K |
| Forester salary | $31K |
| Forest and conservation worker salary | $21K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)