Median Salary
$76,400
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$36.73
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$109,700
entry level starts ~$50,790
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 10,000 employed
How much does a Forester make?
The median pay for a Forester in the United States is $76,400 per year — about $36.73 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $50,790, while the most experienced Foresters in the top 10% earn $109,700.
That is $15,010 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Forester salary range by percentile
Half of all Foresters earn between $62,710 and $91,640 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,790 | $24.42 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $62,710 | $30.15 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $76,400 | $36.73 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $91,640 | $44.06 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,700 | $52.74 |
|
Highest-paying states for Forester
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Forester pay at $107,120 a year, followed by Massachusetts ($89,650) and Alaska ($87,210). At the other end, Oklahoma posts the lowest median at $50,990 — a gap of $56,130 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Forester salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 44 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
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 $61,110Kentucky $56,460Nevada $51,070Oklahoma $50,990
Workforce and education
About 10,000 people work as Foresters in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $79,170 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Forester make in the United States?
The median Forester salary in the United States is $76,400 per year, or about $36.73 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $50,790, while the top 10% of earners make $109,700 or more.
How does Forester pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Forester median of $76,400 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Foresters the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Foresters, with a median salary of $107,120 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Forester?
Becoming a Forester typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Foresters work in the United States?
About 10,000 people were employed as Foresters in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.