Average Salary for Foresters
SOC 19-1032 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Foresters in the United States is $70,660 ($33.97/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $49,240 at the 10th percentile to $103,220 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 9,650 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 21.9% since 2014.
Median Annual
$70,660
Mean Annual
$74,670
10th Pct
$49,240
75th Pct
$85,450
Employment
9,650
Salary Distribution
$49k
10th
$59k
25th
$71k
Median
$85k
75th
$103k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $117,470 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $103,520 |
| Redding, CA | $101,520 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $101,150 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $98,920 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $98,760 |
| Anchorage, AK | $88,500 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $85,610 |
| Salem, OR | $85,150 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $83,730 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $81,140 |
| Birmingham, AL | $80,650 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $80,320 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $79,780 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $79,760 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| California | $98,870 |
| Alaska | $85,550 |
| Iowa | $80,590 |
| Maryland | $79,890 |
| Louisiana | $79,580 |
| New Hampshire | $79,230 |
| Connecticut | $78,610 |
| Michigan | $78,040 |
| Oregon | $77,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,150 |
| South Carolina | $77,030 |
| New York | $76,730 |
| Vermont | $76,360 |
| Illinois | $75,160 |
| Washington | $74,360 |
| Minnesota | $72,280 |
| Texas | $71,180 |
| Alabama | $71,070 |
| North Carolina | $70,320 |
| Colorado | $69,380 |
| Wyoming | $69,260 |
| Virginia | $69,250 |
| Tennessee | $69,180 |
| Ohio | $69,160 |
| Utah | $68,930 |
| Wisconsin | $65,960 |
| Arkansas | $65,960 |
| Arizona | $65,960 |
| Mississippi | $65,960 |
| Massachusetts | $65,390 |
| Montana | $64,200 |
| Kansas | $63,890 |
| New Mexico | $63,860 |
| South Dakota | $63,510 |
| Georgia | $63,360 |
| Missouri | $62,980 |
| Idaho | $62,050 |
| Maine | $61,640 |
| District of Columbia | $61,440 |
| West Virginia | $56,940 |
| Kentucky | $54,580 |
| Indiana | $53,650 |
| Florida | $50,090 |
| Oklahoma | $48,810 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Foresters broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Natural Gas Distribution | $102,530 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation | $101,520 |
| Utilities | $98,740 |
| Utilities | $98,740 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $98,590 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $98,590 |
| Wholesale Trade | $98,580 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $94,170 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | $88,700 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $83,120 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $83,120 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $83,120 |
| Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | $82,050 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | $81,750 |
| Paper Manufacturing | $81,750 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $78,870 |
| Manufacturing | $78,600 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing | $78,090 |
| Educational Services | $77,960 |
| Sawmills and Wood Preservation | $77,860 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | $75,560 |
| Logging | $75,450 |
| Forestry and Logging | $75,450 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $74,960 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $74,960 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $71,570 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $71,490 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing | $70,200 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $69,060 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $69,060 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $68,070 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $68,070 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $67,790 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $66,050 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $66,000 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $64,130 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $63,960 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $63,960 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $63,960 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $60,250 |
| Real Estate | $60,250 |
| Educational Services | $50,530 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $50,090 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $70,660 |
| 2023 | $67,330 |
| 2022 | $64,220 |
| 2021 | $64,110 |
| 2020 | $63,980 |
| 2019 | $61,790 |
| 2018 | $61,410 |
| 2017 | $60,120 |
| 2016 | $58,700 |
| 2015 | $58,230 |
| 2014 | $57,980 |