Forester Salary
Foresters earn a median $76,400 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
What foresters do
Manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. May inventory the type, amount, and location of standing timber, appraise the timber’s worth, negotiate the purchase, and draw up contracts for procurement. May determine how to conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality, and soil stability, and how best to comply with environmental regulations. May devise plans for planting and growing new trees, monitor trees for healthy growth, and determine optimal harvesting schedules.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.2% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 900
Employment of foresters is projected to grow 2.2% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 900 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Forester take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,978
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,737
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,108
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$62,577
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,790 | $24.42 | $42,990 |
| 25th percentile | $62,710 | $30.15 | $52,567 |
| Median (50th) | $76,400 | $36.73 | $62,577 |
| 75th percentile | $91,640 | $44.06 | $73,299 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,700 | $52.74 | $86,004 |
Forester salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $107,120 | +8.3% | $77,064 | $71,110 – $156,750 | 820 |
| Massachusetts | $89,650 | +37.1% | $67,636 | $63,110 – $105,350 | 130 |
| Alaska | $87,210 | +1.9% | $70,182 | $61,840 – $104,680 | 80 |
| South Carolina | $86,780 | +12.7% | $65,830 | $59,310 – $102,670 | 250 |
| Maryland | $86,100 | +7.8% | $65,675 | $35,970 – $109,500 | 120 |
| Connecticut | $84,820 | +7.9% | $65,411 | $71,400 – $98,730 | 60 |
| Iowa | $83,000 | +3.0% | $64,718 | $68,470 – $104,720 | 50 |
| Illinois | $82,160 | +9.3% | $62,707 | $60,230 – $120,150 | 220 |
| Oregon | $81,450 | +5.3% | $59,833 | $60,600 – $107,170 | 670 |
| Vermont | $80,750 | +5.7% | $62,768 | $61,400 – $100,930 | 80 |
| Texas | $80,370 | +12.9% | $65,370 | $60,590 – $101,980 | 210 |
| Alabama | $79,530 | +11.9% | $61,068 | $50,240 – $95,400 | 240 |
| Washington | $78,460 | +5.5% | $64,027 | $59,830 – $119,320 | 950 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,280 | +1.5% | $61,497 | $47,590 – $111,970 | 310 |
| North Carolina | $77,870 | +10.7% | $61,013 | $46,800 – $96,900 | — |
| Georgia | $76,970 | +21.5% | $59,606 | $31,460 – $109,700 | 370 |
| Minnesota | $76,490 | +5.8% | $58,963 | $57,910 – $105,080 | 390 |
| Colorado | $76,400 | +10.1% | $59,924 | $52,090 – $97,410 | 210 |
| Michigan | $75,920 | −2.7% | $59,264 | $57,620 – $98,570 | 340 |
| Utah | $75,210 | +9.1% | $59,322 | $61,590 – $94,560 | 40 |
| District of Columbia | $74,710 | +21.6% | $57,979 | $74,700 – $103,330 | — |
| New York | $73,710 | −3.9% | $57,302 | $58,240 – $108,580 | 280 |
| Ohio | $73,320 | +6.0% | $59,177 | $53,270 – $96,260 | 160 |
| Tennessee | $71,990 | +4.1% | $59,475 | $56,950 – $91,870 | 120 |
| Virginia | $71,990 | +4.0% | $56,150 | $47,200 – $100,610 | 340 |
| Mississippi | $71,280 | +8.1% | $56,856 | $44,520 – $134,980 | 110 |
| Arkansas | $69,240 | +5.0% | $55,053 | $47,750 – $91,170 | 130 |
| New Mexico | $69,240 | +8.4% | $55,452 | $57,910 – $87,190 | 50 |
| Wyoming | $68,180 | −1.6% | $56,795 | $61,110 – $88,880 | 60 |
| Kansas | $67,540 | +5.7% | $53,375 | $57,240 – $87,230 | 40 |
| Arizona | $67,200 | +1.9% | $54,634 | $49,940 – $88,710 | 70 |
| Montana | $67,200 | +4.7% | $53,669 | $50,900 – $86,260 | 240 |
| Maine | $66,480 | +7.9% | $52,291 | $54,070 – $87,810 | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $66,010 | +0.1% | $53,096 | $48,780 – $88,090 | 570 |
| Idaho | $65,170 | +5.0% | $52,198 | $48,110 – $80,770 | 280 |
| New Hampshire | $65,170 | −17.7% | $54,544 | $46,800 – $97,670 | 110 |
| South Dakota | $64,460 | +1.5% | $53,974 | $50,110 – $80,700 | 120 |
| Florida | $64,130 | +28.0% | $53,708 | $49,920 – $112,660 | 380 |
| Missouri | $63,220 | +0.4% | $50,943 | $48,240 – $86,630 | 120 |
| West Virginia | $62,550 | +9.9% | $50,359 | $40,910 – $86,820 | 100 |
| Indiana | $61,110 | +13.9% | $49,509 | $48,150 – $97,020 | 160 |
| Kentucky | $56,460 | +3.4% | $45,687 | $49,940 – $88,710 | 120 |
| Nevada | $51,070 | — | $43,215 | $47,340 – $93,360 | — |
| Oklahoma | $50,990 | +4.5% | $41,401 | $48,280 – $102,300 | 120 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 | Bachelor's degree | +5.3% |
| Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist | $76,780 | Bachelor's degree | +3.6% |
| Soil and Plant Scientist | $78,850 | Bachelor's degree | +6.7% |
| Animal Scientist | $68,940 | Bachelor's degree | +5.8% |
| Epidemiologist | $87,220 | Master's degree | +18.7% |
| Microbiologist | $87,990 | Bachelor's degree | +6.2% |
| Food Scientist and Technologist | $88,720 | Bachelor's degree | +6.2% |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $93,750 | Bachelor's degree | +6.3% |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,920 | Bachelor's degree | +4.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | Doctoral or professional degree | +12.6% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a forester make?
The national median salary for foresters is $76,400 a year ($36.73 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $50,790 and the top 10% earn over $109,700. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays foresters the most?
California has the highest median pay at $107,120.
How many foresters are there in the U.S.?
About 10,430 people work as foresters nationwide.