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Best states for a forest ranger
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to forest ranger jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. In fact, our research shows that Alaska is the best state for forest rangers in America. The best city in America for forest rangers with the highest pay is Dover, DE.
The median salary for forest rangers in Alaska is $44,044. Compare that to the median salary in Nebraska of $27,556, which ranked worst for forest rangers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the Midwest is best for forest rangers, and the Northeast is the worst. Dover, DE is the best city in the country for forest ranger jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.
10 best states for forest rangers in 2026
1. Alaska
Total forest ranger jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $44,044 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 7.74
2. Pennsylvania
Total forest ranger jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $50,685 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
3. Virginia
Total forest ranger jobs: 57 Average annual salary: $46,164 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 2.06
4. Arizona
Total forest ranger jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $43,436 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
5. Rhode Island
Total forest ranger jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $45,008 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 0.28
6. North Carolina
Total forest ranger jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $39,417 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
7. Connecticut
Total forest ranger jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $45,907 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 0
8. Delaware
Total forest ranger jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $45,221 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 0
9. New York
Total forest ranger jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $44,637 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 0.34
10. New Jersey
Total forest ranger jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $44,839 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 0.26
Forest ranger jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a forest ranger
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a forest ranger
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $44,044 | $24,000 | 739,795 | 19 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $50,685 | $28,000 | 12,805,537 | 35 |
| 3 | Virginia | $46,164 | $26,000 | 8,470,020 | 57 |
| 4 | Arizona | $43,436 | $24,000 | 7,016,270 | 16 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $45,008 | $25,000 | 1,059,639 | 1 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $39,417 | $24,000 | 10,273,419 | 27 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $45,907 | $26,000 | 3,588,184 | 0 |
| 8 | Delaware | $45,221 | $25,000 | 961,939 | 0 |
| 9 | New York | $44,637 | $25,000 | 19,849,399 | 13 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $44,839 | $25,000 | 9,005,644 | 6 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $38,595 | $22,000 | 6,859,819 | 39 |
| 12 | Michigan | $38,321 | $24,000 | 9,962,311 | 16 |
| 13 | Maine | $35,107 | $21,000 | 1,335,907 | 17 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $42,346 | $25,000 | 1,342,795 | 0 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $41,057 | $28,000 | 5,576,606 | 3 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $32,892 | $21,000 | 579,315 | 13 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $33,777 | $20,000 | 1,815,857 | 15 |
| 18 | Nevada | $34,953 | $19,000 | 2,998,039 | 9 |
| 19 | Alabama | $35,679 | $23,000 | 4,874,747 | 12 |
| 20 | Florida | $35,262 | $22,000 | 20,984,400 | 66 |
| 21 | Vermont | $40,631 | $24,000 | 623,657 | 0 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $43,171 | $24,000 | 693,972 | 1 |
| 23 | Maryland | $38,646 | $22,000 | 6,052,177 | 10 |
| 24 | Ohio | $33,901 | $21,000 | 11,658,609 | 13 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $32,944 | $19,000 | 2,088,070 | 10 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $31,007 | $20,000 | 6,715,984 | 21 |
| 27 | Washington | $33,699 | $19,000 | 7,405,743 | 28 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $32,662 | $21,000 | 5,795,483 | 8 |
| 29 | Texas | $34,311 | $20,000 | 28,304,596 | 18 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $32,619 | $22,000 | 755,393 | 1 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $31,469 | $21,000 | 1,427,538 | 5 |
| 32 | Illinois | $34,962 | $22,000 | 12,802,023 | 6 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $29,927 | $19,000 | 4,454,189 | 12 |
| 34 | Iowa | $32,756 | $21,000 | 3,145,711 | 0 |
| 35 | California | $34,285 | $19,000 | 39,536,653 | 60 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $29,925 | $19,000 | 3,004,279 | 8 |
| 37 | Oregon | $33,136 | $19,000 | 4,142,776 | 4 |
| 38 | Indiana | $31,276 | $20,000 | 6,666,818 | 6 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $28,066 | $18,000 | 2,984,100 | 16 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $29,756 | $18,000 | 4,684,333 | 9 |
| 41 | Kansas | $29,560 | $19,000 | 2,913,123 | 6 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $29,458 | $19,000 | 869,666 | 2 |
| 43 | Montana | $27,205 | $17,000 | 1,050,493 | 17 |
| 44 | Idaho | $25,344 | $15,000 | 1,716,943 | 42 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $28,805 | $18,000 | 5,024,369 | 10 |
| 46 | Utah | $25,432 | $15,000 | 3,101,833 | 44 |
| 47 | Georgia | $28,729 | $18,000 | 10,429,379 | 27 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $27,680 | $17,000 | 3,930,864 | 11 |
| 49 | Colorado | $25,508 | $16,000 | 5,607,154 | 76 |
| 50 | Missouri | $27,746 | $18,000 | 6,113,532 | 4 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $27,556 | $18,000 | 1,920,076 | 1 |
Highest paying states for forest rangers
| Rank | State | Avg. Forest Ranger Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $44,044 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $50,685 |
| 3 | Virginia | $46,164 |
| 4 | Arizona | $43,436 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $45,008 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $39,417 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $45,907 |
| 8 | Delaware | $45,221 |
| 9 | New York | $44,637 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $44,839 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $38,595 |
| 12 | Michigan | $38,321 |
| 13 | Maine | $35,107 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $42,346 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $41,057 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $32,892 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $33,777 |
| 18 | Nevada | $34,953 |
| 19 | Alabama | $35,679 |
| 20 | Florida | $35,262 |
| 21 | Vermont | $40,631 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $43,171 |
| 23 | Maryland | $38,646 |
| 24 | Ohio | $33,901 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $32,944 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $31,007 |
| 27 | Washington | $33,699 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $32,662 |
| 29 | Texas | $34,311 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $32,619 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $31,469 |
| 32 | Illinois | $34,962 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $29,927 |
| 34 | Iowa | $32,756 |
| 35 | California | $34,285 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $29,925 |
| 37 | Oregon | $33,136 |
| 38 | Indiana | $31,276 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $28,066 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $29,756 |
| 41 | Kansas | $29,560 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $29,458 |
| 43 | Montana | $27,205 |
| 44 | Idaho | $25,344 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $28,805 |
| 46 | Utah | $25,432 |
| 47 | Georgia | $28,729 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $27,680 |
| 49 | Colorado | $25,508 |
| 50 | Missouri | $27,746 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $27,556 |
Forest ranger best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025