Foresters Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for foresters in the U.S. is $76,400 ($36.73 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $76,400
- Mean annual wage
- $79,170
- Median hourly wage
- $36.73
- Employment
- 10,430
10,430 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,790 | $24.42 |
| 25th percentile | $62,710 | $30.15 |
| Median (50th) | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| 75th percentile | $91,640 | $44.06 |
| 90th percentile | $109,700 | $52.74 |
Highest-paying states for foresters
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $107,120 | 820 |
| Massachusetts | $89,650 | 130 |
| Alaska | $87,210 | 80 |
| South Carolina | $86,780 | 250 |
| Maryland | $86,100 | 120 |
| Connecticut | $84,820 | 60 |
| Iowa | $83,000 | 50 |
| Illinois | $82,160 | 220 |
| Oregon | $81,450 | 670 |
| Vermont | $80,750 | 80 |
Lowest-paying states
- Oklahoma: $50,990 median annual wage
- Nevada: $51,070 median annual wage
- Kentucky: $56,460 median annual wage
- Indiana: $61,110 median annual wage
- West Virginia: $62,550 median annual wage
About this occupation
Manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. May inventory the type, amount, and location of standing timber, appraise the timber's worth, negotiate the purchase, and draw up contracts for procurement. May determine how to conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality, and soil stability, and how best to comply with environmental regulations. May devise plans for planting and growing new trees, monitor trees for healthy growth, and determine optimal harvesting schedules.
Typical tasks
- Subcontract with loggers or pulpwood cutters for tree removal and to aid in road layout.
- Contact local forest owners and gain permission to take inventory of the type, amount, and location of all standing timber on the property.
- Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
- Plan and supervise forestry projects, such as determining the type, number and placement of trees to be planted, managing tree nurseries, thinning forest and monitoring growth of new seedlings.
- Analyze effect of forest conditions on tree growth rates and tree species prevalence and the yield, duration, seed production, growth viability, and germination of different species.
- Monitor forest-cleared lands to ensure that they are reclaimed to their most suitable end use.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 71.5% |
| Master's degree | 24.8% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 3.8% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.