Kentucky Median
$56,460
per year
Hourly Rate
$27.14
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-26% vs US median
US median $76,400
State Rank
#42 of 44
120 employed here
How much does a Forester make in Kentucky?
Foresters in Kentucky take home a median of $56,460 annually — roughly $27.14 an hour — which runs 26% below the national median of $76,400.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $49,940 while the top 10% make $88,710 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $51,160 and $69,240 a year.
Forester salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,940 | $24.01 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $51,160 | $24.60 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $56,460 | $27.14 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $69,240 | $33.29 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,710 | $42.65 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 42nd out of 44 states and territories for Forester pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Forester salary in other states
California $107,120Massachusetts $89,650Alaska $87,210South Carolina $86,780Maryland $86,100Connecticut $84,820Iowa $83,000Illinois $82,160Oregon $81,450Vermont $80,750Texas $80,370Alabama $79,530Washington $78,460Pennsylvania $78,280North Carolina $77,870Georgia $76,970Minnesota $76,490Colorado $76,400Michigan $75,920Utah $75,210District of Columbia $74,710New York $73,710Ohio $73,320Tennessee $71,990Virginia $71,990Mississippi $71,280Arkansas $69,240New Mexico $69,240Wyoming $68,180Kansas $67,540Arizona $67,200Montana $67,200Maine $66,480Wisconsin $66,010Idaho $65,170New Hampshire $65,170South Dakota $64,460Florida $64,130Missouri $63,220West Virginia $62,550Indiana $61,110Nevada $51,070Oklahoma $50,990
Working as a Forester in Kentucky
Nationally, about 10,000 people work as Foresters in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($56,460) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Forester make in Kentucky?
The median Forester salary in Kentucky is $56,460 per year, or about $27.14 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $49,940 at the entry level to $88,710 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Foresters about 26% less than the national median of $76,400. Kentucky ranks 42nd out of 44 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Foresters?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $56,460 a year. About 120 Foresters are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Forester salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.