Foresters Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for foresterss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $79,170 ≈ $38/hr
National median salary $76,400
Total employment 10,430 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +1.2%
Slower than average
Annual openings 1,100 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 13,800 → 14,000 (+200)
Typical entry education Bachelor's degree
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- California$110,770
- Illinois$86,700
- Connecticut$86,170
- Alaska$86,060
- Massachusetts$86,020
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Nevada$60,140
- Oklahoma$62,600
- West Virginia$63,560
- Kentucky$63,560
- Idaho$65,370
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $110,770 | $107,120 | $53 | +39.9% | 820 |
| 2 | Illinois | $86,700 | $82,160 | $42 | +9.5% | 220 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $86,170 | $84,820 | $41 | +8.8% | 60 |
| 4 | Alaska | $86,060 | $87,210 | $41 | +8.7% | 80 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $86,020 | $89,650 | $41 | +8.7% | 130 |
| 6 | Washington | $84,550 | $78,460 | $41 | +6.8% | 950 |
| 7 | South Carolina | $84,380 | $86,780 | $41 | +6.6% | 250 |
| 8 | Iowa | $83,390 | $83,000 | $40 | +5.3% | 50 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $82,930 | $74,710 | $40 | +4.7% | — |
| 10 | Texas | $82,420 | $80,370 | $40 | +4.1% | 210 |
| 11 | Oregon | $82,070 | $81,450 | $39 | +3.7% | 670 |
| 12 | Vermont | $81,420 | $80,750 | $39 | +2.8% | 80 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $80,550 | $78,280 | $39 | +1.7% | 310 |
| 14 | Maryland | $80,200 | $86,100 | $39 | +1.3% | 120 |
| 15 | Mississippi | $79,970 | $71,280 | $38 | +1% | 110 |
| 16 | New York | $79,600 | $73,710 | $38 | +0.5% | 280 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $79,580 | $76,490 | $38 | +0.5% | 390 |
| 18 | Georgia | $78,430 | $76,970 | $38 | -0.9% | 370 |
| 19 | Michigan | $77,500 | $75,920 | $37 | -2.1% | 340 |
| 20 | Alabama | $75,660 | $79,530 | $36 | -4.4% | 240 |
| 21 | Utah | $75,260 | $75,210 | $36 | -4.9% | 40 |
| 22 | Ohio | $75,190 | $73,320 | $36 | -5% | 160 |
| 23 | Colorado | $74,560 | $76,400 | $36 | -5.8% | 210 |
| 24 | Virginia | $73,870 | $71,990 | $36 | -6.7% | 340 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $73,270 | $71,990 | $35 | -7.5% | 120 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $72,920 | $69,240 | $35 | -7.9% | 50 |
| 27 | Kansas | $72,320 | $67,540 | $35 | -8.7% | 40 |
| 28 | Montana | $72,080 | $67,200 | $35 | -9% | 240 |
| 29 | Florida | $71,970 | $64,130 | $35 | -9.1% | 380 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $71,770 | $68,180 | $35 | -9.3% | 60 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $71,450 | $65,170 | $34 | -9.8% | 110 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $70,850 | $77,870 | $34 | -10.5% | — |
| 33 | Arizona | $69,670 | $67,200 | $34 | -12% | 70 |
| 34 | Maine | $68,980 | $66,480 | $33 | -12.9% | 70 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $68,440 | $69,240 | $33 | -13.6% | 130 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $68,220 | $66,010 | $33 | -13.8% | 570 |
| 37 | Indiana | $67,530 | $61,110 | $32 | -14.7% | 160 |
| 38 | Missouri | $67,030 | $63,220 | $32 | -15.3% | 120 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $65,670 | $64,460 | $32 | -17.1% | 120 |
| 40 | Idaho | $65,370 | $65,170 | $31 | -17.4% | 280 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $63,560 | $56,460 | $31 | -19.7% | 120 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $63,560 | $62,550 | $31 | -19.7% | 100 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $62,600 | $50,990 | $30 | -20.9% | 120 |
| 44 | Nevada | $60,140 | $51,070 | $29 | -24% | — |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 94 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $112,560 | $119,110 | 70 |
| 2 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $107,750 | $118,560 | 110 |
| 3 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $107,690 | $119,020 | 110 |
| 4 | Fresno, CA | $102,540 | $106,830 | 30 |
| 5 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $93,340 | $98,060 | 40 |
| 6 | Columbia, SC | $89,990 | $86,590 | 50 |
| 7 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $89,800 | $87,550 | 50 |
| 8 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $89,780 | $89,200 | 180 |
| 9 | Salem, OR | $89,220 | $86,510 | 110 |
| 10 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $87,780 | $85,940 | — |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing foresterss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hydroelectric Power Generation | $125,840 | $120,960 | 80 |
| 2 | Utilities | $102,040 | $103,150 | 910 |
| 3 | Sector 22 - Utilities | $102,040 | $103,150 | 910 |
| 4 | Real Estate | $97,360 | $88,390 | — |
| 5 | Sector 53 - Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $97,360 | $88,390 | — |
| 6 | Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $97,020 | $98,250 | — |
| 7 | Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | $94,940 | $97,210 | 140 |
| 8 | Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $94,700 | $87,860 | — |
| 9 | Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $94,700 | $88,900 | — |
| 10 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $93,150 | $97,140 | 270 |
| 11 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $93,150 | $97,140 | 270 |
| 12 | Sector 55 - Management of Companies and Enterprises | $93,150 | $97,140 | 270 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do foresters make in the U.S.?
The median foresters salary in the United States is $76,400 per year (mean $79,170), and about 80% earn between $50,790 and $109,700.
How much do foresters make per hour?
Roughly $38 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $79,170 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays foresters the most?
California has the highest average pay for foresters at $110,770 per year (median $107,120).
What is the job outlook for foresters?
Employment is projected to change +1.2% from 2024 to 2034 (Slower than average), with about 1,100 openings per year.
What People Search
Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.
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