How much does a forester make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $36.73 an hour or $6,367 a month.
- Hourly
- $36.73
- Average (mean)
- $79,170
- Jobs
- 10,430
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,790 | $24.42 | |
| 25th | $62,710 | $30.15 | |
| Median | $76,400 | $36.73 | |
| 75th | $91,640 | $44.06 | |
| 90th | $109,700 | $52.74 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| California | $107,100 |
| Massachusetts | $89,650 |
| Alaska | $87,210 |
| South Carolina | $86,780 |
| Maryland | $86,100 |
| Connecticut | $84,820 |
| Iowa | $83,000 |
| Illinois | $82,160 |
| Oregon | $81,450 |
| Vermont | $80,750 |
| Texas | $80,370 |
| Alabama | $79,530 |
| Washington | $78,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,280 |
| North Carolina | $77,870 |
| Georgia | $76,970 |
| Minnesota | $76,490 |
| Colorado | $76,400 |
| Michigan | $75,920 |
| Utah | $75,210 |
| District of Columbia | $74,710 |
| New York | $73,710 |
| Ohio | $73,320 |
| Tennessee | $71,990 |
| Virginia | $71,990 |
| Mississippi | $71,280 |
| Arkansas | $69,240 |
| New Mexico | $69,240 |
| Wyoming | $68,180 |
| Kansas | $67,540 |
| Arizona | $67,200 |
| Montana | $67,200 |
| Maine | $66,480 |
| Wisconsin | $66,010 |
| Idaho | $65,170 |
| New Hampshire | $65,170 |
| South Dakota | $64,460 |
| Florida | $64,130 |
| Missouri | $63,220 |
| West Virginia | $62,550 |
| Indiana | $61,110 |
| Kentucky | $56,460 |
| Nevada | $51,070 |
| Oklahoma | $50,990 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $112,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $107,800 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $107,700 |
| Fresno, CA | $102,500 |
| San Diego, CA | $93,340 |
| Columbia, SC | $89,990 |
| Portland, OR | $89,780 |
| Salem, OR | $89,220 |
| Birmingham, AL | $87,050 |
| Seattle, WA | $86,310 |
| Boston, MA | $86,070 |
| Hartford, CT | $86,060 |
| Chicago, IL | $85,610 |
| Houston, TX | $83,720 |
| Dallas, TX | $82,310 |
In other countries
Forester belongs to the international group "Farming, forestry and fisheries advisers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Animal Scientist$68,940
- Food Scientist and Technologist$88,720
- Soil and Plant Scientist$78,850
- Biochemist and Biophysicist$127,400
- Microbiologist$87,990
- Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist$76,780
- Biological Scientist$98,920
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Epidemiologist$87,220
- Medical Scientist$103,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a forester make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $36.73 ($76,400 a year).
How much does a forester make a month?
About $6,367 a month before tax, based on a median of $76,400 a year.
How much does a forester make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $50,790 or less a year ($24.42 an hour); the top 10% make $109,700 or more.
Which state pays foresters the most?
California, with a median of $107,100 a year, followed by Massachusetts ($89,650) and Alaska ($87,210).
Which city pays foresters the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $112,600 a year.
How many foresters are there in the United States?
About 10,430 people work as foresters.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.