Forest and Conservation Technicians pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,730 or more. The middle half of forest and conservation technicians in Chicago earn between $38,260 and $66,850.
- $37K10th
- $38K25th
- $50KMedian
- $67K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,010 | $4,501 | $25.97 |
| Median | $49,630 | $4,136 | $23.86 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,260 | $3,188 | $18.39 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $66,850 | $5,571 | $32.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Forest and Conservation Technicians pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Forest and conservation technicians in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($55,010) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($59,060). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $54,560.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $54,010 | $49,630 | $36,880 | $74,730 | 380 |
| Illinois | $55,010 | $52,790 | $36,950 | $74,390 | 820 |
| United States | $59,060 | $54,560 | $40,330 | $83,630 | 30,410 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Forest and Conservation Technicians salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $54,010, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $43,045 a year, or $3,587 a month and $1,656 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $43,987 | $3,666 |
| Working in IL | $43,045 | $3,587 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for forest and conservation technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $54,010 buys what about $52,136 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Forest and Conservation Technicians salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$69,680
- Madison, WI$50,180
- Grand Rapids, MI$36,310
- Indianapolis, IN$46,610
- Lansing, MI$51,810
- Green Bay, WI$57,180
Highest-paying cities for forest and conservation technicians
Santa Rosa, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($77,010).
- Santa Rosa, CA$77,010
- Baton Rouge, LA$76,770
- San Jose, CA$71,970
- Carson City, NV$70,640
- Milwaukee, WI$69,680
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Forest and Conservation Technicians salary in Chicago: questions
How much do forest and conservation technicians make an hour in Chicago?
$25.97 an hour on average, and $23.86 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level forest and conservation technicians salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the forest and conservation technicians take-home pay in Chicago?
About $43,045 a year ($3,587 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,010.
Do forest and conservation technicians earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($59,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-4071; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.43, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.43).
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