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Forester salary
Average forester salary
$50,590
Understanding Forester Salaries
The average salary for a Forester in the United States is $50,590 per year, equivalent to about $24 per hour. However, this figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry you work in. For instance, Foresters in states like California and Washington often earn more due to higher living costs and demand for environmental management.
Salary by State
Forester salaries differ widely across states. For example, the highest-paying states include:
- California: $60,000
- Washington: $58,000
- Oregon: $55,000
In addition to state differences, the level of experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level positions may start around $40,000, while experienced Foresters can earn upwards of $70,000 annually, particularly in management roles.
Industry Impact
The industry also affects earnings, with Foresters working in government, environmental consulting, and research typically earning more than those in non-profit sectors. Understanding these dynamics can equip you with the knowledge needed to navigate your career effectively.
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Where can a Forester earn more?
Forester salary estimates from across the web
Average forester salary by state
The highest-paying states for foresters are Alaska, Connecticut, and Delaware. The lowest average forester salary states are Alabama, Montana, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for foresters
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $86,804 | $41.73 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $59,596 | $28.65 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $58,448 | $28.10 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $55,073 | $26.48 |
| 5 | Ohio | $55,119 | $26.50 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $51,571 | $24.79 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $56,645 | $27.23 |
| 8 | Vermont | $52,433 | $25.21 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $53,433 | $25.69 |
| 10 | Delaware | $59,107 | $28.42 |
| 11 | Mississippi | $53,971 | $25.95 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $57,114 | $27.46 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $55,161 | $26.52 |
| 14 | Missouri | $52,974 | $25.47 |
| 15 | Nevada | $50,825 | $24.44 |
| 16 | Maine | $47,243 | $22.71 |
| 17 | Maryland | $57,372 | $27.58 |
| 18 | New York | $57,729 | $27.75 |
| 19 | California | $53,203 | $25.58 |
| 20 | Oregon | $54,226 | $26.07 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $47,878 | $23.02 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $57,094 | $27.45 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $42,530 | $20.45 |
| 24 | Florida | $46,217 | $22.22 |
| 25 | Virginia | $49,155 | $23.63 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $45,871 | $22.05 |
| 27 | Utah | $50,366 | $24.21 |
| 28 | Michigan | $48,009 | $23.08 |
| 29 | Arizona | $46,452 | $22.33 |
| 30 | Texas | $45,742 | $21.99 |
| 31 | Washington | $43,907 | $21.11 |
| 32 | Iowa | $40,608 | $19.52 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $40,333 | $19.39 |
| 34 | Illinois | $44,206 | $21.25 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $44,870 | $21.57 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $42,515 | $20.44 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $42,778 | $20.57 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $44,775 | $21.53 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $40,547 | $19.49 |
| 40 | Montana | $37,148 | $17.86 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $36,834 | $17.71 |
| 42 | Indiana | $37,538 | $18.05 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $36,984 | $17.78 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $38,318 | $18.42 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $33,575 | $16.14 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $37,661 | $18.11 |
| 47 | Colorado | $41,130 | $19.77 |
| 48 | Idaho | $34,569 | $16.62 |
| 49 | Kansas | $37,966 | $18.25 |
| 50 | Georgia | $37,339 | $17.95 |
| 51 | Alabama | $37,276 | $17.92 |
Highest paying cities for foresters
The highest-paying cities for foresters are New York, NY, Quincy, MA, and Eugene, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $57,818 | $27.80 |
| 2 | Quincy, MA | $56,939 | $27.37 |
| 3 | Eugene, OR | $55,317 | $26.59 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $54,537 | $26.22 |
| 5 | Harrisburg, PA | $53,174 | $25.56 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | $51,292 | $24.66 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $47,261 | $22.72 |
| 8 | Albuquerque, NM | $45,581 | $21.91 |
| 9 | Altamonte Springs, FL | $45,170 | $21.72 |
| 10 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $44,852 | $21.56 |
| 11 | Olympia, WA | $44,343 | $21.32 |
| 12 | Kingsport, TN | $40,605 | $19.52 |
| 13 | Charlotte, NC | $40,401 | $19.42 |
| 14 | Fort Collins, CO | $40,384 | $19.42 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $37,244 | $17.91 |
| 16 | Oklahoma City, OK | $37,050 | $17.81 |
| 17 | Birmingham, AL | $36,977 | $17.78 |
| 18 | Little Rock, AR | $36,878 | $17.73 |
Forester salary details
A forester's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $98,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a forester's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $98,000 | $8,167 | $47 |
| 75th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| Average | $50,590 | $4,216 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying forester jobs
The highest paying types of foresters are forest engineer, chief unit forester, and forestry consultant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Technician | $39,690 | $3,308 | $19.08 | 43,079 |
| Environmental Service Technician | $30,862 | $2,572 | $14.84 | 83,697 |
| Environmental Scientist | $60,208 | $5,017 | $28.95 | 56,425 |
Top companies hiring foresters now:
Which companies pay foresters the most?
Forester salaries at Sierra Pacific Industries and Portland General Electric are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average forester salary at companies like Northwell Health and Salt River Project are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra Pacific Industries | $97,817 | $47.03 |
| 2 | Portland General Electric | $92,752 | $44.59 |
| 3 | Northwell Health | $87,564 | $42.10 |
| 4 | Salt River Project | $83,320 | $40.06 |
| 5 | Koch Industries | $79,710 | $38.32 |
| 6 | Forest Manufacturing Co | $75,473 | $36.29 |
| 7 | Student Conservation Association | $72,978 | $35.09 |
| 8 | Regions Bank | $70,399 | $33.85 |
| 9 | International Society of Arboriculture | $68,432 | $32.90 |
| 10 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | $61,857 | $29.74 |
| 11 | Bureau of Land Management | $61,208 | $29.43 |
| 12 | The Nature Conservancy | $57,822 | $27.80 |
| 13 | Washington State University | $56,597 | $27.21 |
| 14 | City of Detroit | $56,547 | $27.19 |
| 15 | Resource Management Service | $53,280 | $25.62 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $50,995 | $24.52 |
| 17 | CN Utility Consulting | $50,995 | $24.52 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania State Treasurer | $50,995 | $24.52 |
| 19 | The Davey Tree Expert Company | $50,888 | $24.47 |
| 20 | Brinker International | $50,475 | $24.27 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Forester salary by industry
The average forester salary varies across industries:
- The average forester salary in the insurance industry is $71,235, the highest of any industry.
- The average forester salary in the finance industry is $57,437.
- Foresters in the utilities industry earn an average salary of $40,010, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for foresters
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Insurance | $71,235 | $34.25 |
| 2 | Professional | $57,437 | $27.61 |
| 3 | Government | $49,542 | $23.82 |
| 4 | Utilities | $40,010 | $19.24 |
High paying forester jobs
Forester salary trends
The average forester salary has risen by $6,951 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average forester earned $43,639 annually, but today, they earn $50,590 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for foresters over the last decade.
Compare forester salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average forester salary over time
Compare forester salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Forester salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $50,600 | $24.32 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $48,900 | $23.49 | +0.6% |
| 2024 | $48,600 | $23.35 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $47,500 | $22.85 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $46,400 | $22.31 | +0.8% |
Recently added forester salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Hancock | Forester | DeRidder, LA | 06/30/2025 | $47,775 |
| Dutch Bros Coffee | Broista-Forest | Forest Grove, OR | 06/28/2025 | $39,549 |
| Eocene Environmental Group of The West | Consulting Utility Forester | | Fontana, CA | 06/28/2025 | $50,088 |
| Manulife | Forester | DeRidder, LA | 06/28/2025 | $47,775 |
| State of Florida | Forester | Gainesville, FL | 06/27/2025 | $50,000 |
| Utilities Service, LLC | Distribution Forester | Portland, OR | 06/27/2025 | $56,349 |
| Acrt, Inc. | Consulting Utility Forester-Seasonal | | Denver, CO | 06/26/2025 | $53,219 |
| Job Listingsmendocino Forest Products Company, LLC | Forester | Ukiah, CA | 06/26/2025 | $72,000 |
| State of Kentucky | Forester I | Kentucky | 06/25/2025 | $41,952 |
| Weyerhaeuser : We'Re Hiring | Silviculture Forester | Hammond, LA | 06/24/2025 | $61,688 |
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