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Forest technician salary
Average forest technician salary
$36,614
Understanding Forest Technician Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Forest Technician stands at $36,614 annually, or approximately $18 per hour. This figure is influenced by various factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific job responsibilities. For instance, technicians in urban areas or regions with high demand for forestry services may see higher compensation.
Salary by State
Different states offer varying salaries due to cost of living and local job markets. For example, states with extensive forest land, such as Washington and Oregon, may provide better pay scales compared to others. It is crucial to research the average salary by state to identify where to maximize your earnings.
Highest Paying Cities
Certain cities also offer higher salaries for Forest Technicians. Cities with robust environmental initiatives or forestry programs often pay more, attracting skilled professionals. Understanding these dynamics can be beneficial for job seekers aiming to optimize their career paths in forestry.
Let Zippi find your next forest technician job
Let Zippi find your next forest technician job
Where can a Forest Technician earn more?
Average forest technician salary by state
The highest-paying states for forest technicians are Alaska, Virginia, and New Jersey. The lowest average forest technician salary states are Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for forest technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $39,932 | $19.20 |
| 2 | Alaska | $53,174 | $25.56 |
| 3 | Maine | $38,884 | $18.69 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $39,455 | $18.97 |
| 5 | Vermont | $39,856 | $19.16 |
| 6 | Nevada | $38,915 | $18.71 |
| 7 | Mississippi | $39,045 | $18.77 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $39,967 | $19.21 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $40,015 | $19.24 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $40,784 | $19.61 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $39,795 | $19.13 |
| 12 | Alabama | $38,802 | $18.65 |
| 13 | Idaho | $37,216 | $17.89 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $40,030 | $19.25 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $36,022 | $17.32 |
| 16 | Virginia | $40,949 | $19.69 |
| 17 | Arizona | $36,933 | $17.76 |
| 18 | Delaware | $38,079 | $18.31 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $35,448 | $17.04 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $37,813 | $18.18 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $35,692 | $17.16 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $37,541 | $18.05 |
| 23 | Montana | $35,639 | $17.13 |
| 24 | Colorado | $36,132 | $17.37 |
| 25 | Michigan | $36,986 | $17.78 |
| 26 | Indiana | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| 27 | Ohio | $36,397 | $17.50 |
| 28 | Washington | $37,874 | $18.21 |
| 29 | California | $39,095 | $18.80 |
| 30 | New York | $36,904 | $17.74 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $35,012 | $16.83 |
| 32 | Utah | $33,794 | $16.25 |
| 33 | Oregon | $33,644 | $16.18 |
| 34 | Florida | $34,780 | $16.72 |
| 35 | Missouri | $34,144 | $16.42 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $33,890 | $16.29 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $33,815 | $16.26 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $33,985 | $16.34 |
| 39 | Georgia | $33,670 | $16.19 |
| 40 | District of Columbia | $37,399 | $17.98 |
| 41 | Maryland | $35,582 | $17.11 |
| 42 | Texas | $33,855 | $16.28 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $33,564 | $16.14 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $31,302 | $15.05 |
| 45 | Iowa | $30,623 | $14.72 |
| 46 | Illinois | $31,041 | $14.92 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $34,328 | $16.50 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $30,086 | $14.46 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $31,085 | $14.94 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $28,827 | $13.86 |
| 51 | Kansas | $29,644 | $14.25 |
Highest paying cities for forest technicians
The highest-paying cities for forest technicians are Birmingham, AL, Seattle, WA, and Atlanta, GA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham, AL | $38,754 | $18.63 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $38,144 | $18.34 |
| 3 | Atlanta, GA | $33,694 | $16.20 |
| 4 | Denton, TX | $33,308 | $16.01 |
Forest technician salary details
A forest technician's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $48,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a forest technician's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 75th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| Average | $36,614 | $3,051 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying forest technician jobs
The highest paying types of forest technicians are fire management officer, resource manager forester, and soil tester.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Management Officer | $77,536 | $6,461 | $37.28 | 121,051 |
| Natural Resource Technician | $33,588 | $2,799 | $16.15 | 19,143 |
| Conservation Technician | $35,950 | $2,996 | $17.28 | 6,640 |
| Range Technician | $36,047 | $3,004 | $17.33 | 5,976 |
| Technician | $38,045 | $3,170 | $18.29 | 596,842 |
| Forestry Technician | $35,758 | $2,980 | $17.19 | 5,810 |
Top companies hiring forest technicians now:
Which companies pay forest technicians the most?
Forest technician salaries at Washington State University and University of Washington are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average forest technician salary at companies like Resource Management Service and Gutchess Lumber Co. are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington State University | $43,002 | $20.67 |
| 2 | University of Washington | $41,064 | $19.74 |
| 3 | Resource Management Service | $38,879 | $18.69 |
| 4 | Gutchess Lumber Co. | $38,013 | $18.28 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania State Treasurer | $37,610 | $18.08 |
| 6 | American Forest Management | $36,948 | $17.76 |
| 7 | Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania | $36,630 | $17.61 |
| 8 | State of West Virginia | $34,525 | $16.60 |
| 9 | Maine | $34,123 | $16.41 |
| 10 | State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia | $33,465 | $16.09 |
| 11 | Sanford Health | $32,397 | $15.58 |
| 12 | The Good Samaritan Society | $29,680 | $14.27 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Forest technician salary trends
The average forest technician salary has risen by $3,451 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average forest technician earned $33,163 annually, but today, they earn $36,614 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for forest technicians over the last decade.
Compare forest technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average forest technician salary over time
Compare forest technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Forest technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,600 | $17.60 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | $36,500 | $17.53 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $35,300 | $16.99 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $34,300 | $16.51 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | $33,800 | $16.25 | +0.4% |
Recently added forest technician salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah State University | Forest Ecology Technician | Cove, UT | 05/31/2025 | $37,566 |
| DHRM | Forest Technician-Five Forks District | Enon, VA | 05/22/2025 | $37,000 |
| State of Virginia | Forest Technician-Five Forks District | Enon, VA | 05/21/2025 | $37,000 |
| Audubon Engineering | Junior Forest Technician | Southbury, CT | 05/15/2025 | $34,436 |
| Great Basin Institute | Forest Monitoring Technician | Reno, NV | 05/02/2025 | $35,479 |
| Friendship Automotive | Express Technician-Nissan of Forest City | Forest City, NC | 04/29/2025 | $25,044 |
| Audubon Engineering | Junior Forest Technician | Southbury, CT | 04/28/2025 | $34,436 |
| Utah State University | Wildlife and Forest Ecology Technician | Cove, UT | 04/17/2025 | $35,479 |
| Friendship Auto | Express Technician-Chevy/Gmc of Forest City | Forest City, NC | 04/16/2025 | $25,044 |
| Friendship Automotive | Express Technician-Chevy/Gmc of Forest City | Forest City, NC | 03/30/2025 | $25,044 |
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