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Top 15 cities for foresters by average salary
| San Francisco, CA | $119,110 |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $119,020 |
| Sacramento, CA | $118,560 |
| Fresno, CA | $106,830 |
| San Diego, CA | $98,060 |
| Seattle, WA | $93,500 |
| Portland, OR | $89,200 |
| Birmingham, AL | $88,980 |
| Hartford, CT | $87,130 |
| Chicago, IL | $87,080 |
| Columbia, SC | $86,590 |
| Salem, OR | $86,510 |
| Dallas, TX | $86,240 |
| Houston, TX | $85,450 |
| Washington, DC | $85,330 |
Map: Foresters salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Foresters salary by state
California pays foresters the most statewide, $110,770 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $110,770 | $107,120 | 820 | 5 | $119,110 | $98,060 |
| Illinois | $86,700 | $82,160 | 220 | 1 | $87,080 | $87,080 |
| Connecticut | $86,170 | $84,820 | 60 | 1 | $87,130 | $87,130 |
| Alaska | $86,060 | $87,210 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $86,020 | $89,650 | 130 | 1 | $80,010 | $80,010 |
| Washington | $84,550 | $78,460 | 950 | 5 | $93,500 | $80,050 |
| South Carolina | $84,380 | $86,780 | 250 | 1 | $86,590 | $86,590 |
| Iowa | $83,390 | $83,000 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Washington, D.C. | $82,930 | $74,710 | n/a | 1 | $85,330 | $85,330 |
| Texas | $82,420 | $80,370 | 210 | 3 | $86,240 | $81,590 |
| Oregon | $82,070 | $81,450 | 670 | 5 | $89,200 | $76,020 |
| Vermont | $81,420 | $80,750 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $80,550 | $78,280 | 310 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Maryland | $80,200 | $86,100 | 120 | 1 | $59,610 | $59,610 |
| Mississippi | $79,970 | $71,280 | 110 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New York | $79,600 | $73,710 | 280 | 1 | $75,720 | $75,720 |
| Minnesota | $79,580 | $76,490 | 390 | 2 | $81,390 | $75,830 |
| Georgia | $78,430 | $76,970 | 370 | 1 | $79,120 | $79,120 |
| Michigan | $77,500 | $75,920 | 340 | 1 | $77,480 | $77,480 |
| Alabama | $75,660 | $79,530 | 240 | 1 | $88,980 | $88,980 |
| Utah | $75,260 | $75,210 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Ohio | $75,190 | $73,320 | 160 | 1 | $73,310 | $73,310 |
| Colorado | $74,560 | $76,400 | 210 | 2 | $76,690 | $65,660 |
| Virginia | $73,870 | $71,990 | 340 | 1 | $70,970 | $70,970 |
| Tennessee | $73,270 | $71,990 | 120 | 1 | $73,950 | $73,950 |
| New Mexico | $72,920 | $69,240 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kansas | $72,320 | $67,540 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Montana | $72,080 | $67,200 | 240 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Florida | $71,970 | $64,130 | 380 | 5 | $78,610 | $63,760 |
| Wyoming | $71,770 | $68,180 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New Hampshire | $71,450 | $65,170 | 110 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| North Carolina | $70,850 | $77,870 | n/a | 2 | $77,050 | $62,630 |
| Arizona | $69,670 | $67,200 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Maine | $68,980 | $66,480 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Arkansas | $68,440 | $69,240 | 130 | 1 | $66,770 | $66,770 |
| Wisconsin | $68,220 | $66,010 | 570 | 2 | $78,950 | $70,310 |
| Indiana | $67,530 | $61,110 | 160 | 1 | $70,510 | $70,510 |
| Missouri | $67,030 | $63,220 | 120 | 1 | $78,240 | $78,240 |
| South Dakota | $65,670 | $64,460 | 120 | 1 | $67,480 | $67,480 |
| Idaho | $65,370 | $65,170 | 280 | 2 | $65,530 | $64,070 |
| Kentucky | $63,560 | $56,460 | 120 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| West Virginia | $63,560 | $62,550 | 100 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $62,600 | $50,990 | 120 | 1 | $57,560 | $57,560 |
| Nevada | $60,140 | $51,070 | n/a | 1 | $55,580 | $55,580 |
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Foresters salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $119,110 | $112,560 | $57.26 | 70 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $119,020 | $107,690 | $57.22 | 110 |
| Sacramento, CA | $118,560 | $107,750 | $57.00 | 110 |
| Fresno, CA | $106,830 | $102,540 | $51.36 | 30 |
| San Diego, CA | $98,060 | $93,340 | $47.15 | 40 |
| Seattle, WA | $93,500 | $86,310 | $44.95 | 240 |
| Portland, OR | $89,200 | $89,780 | $42.89 | 180 |
| Birmingham, AL | $88,980 | $87,050 | $42.78 | 40 |
| Hartford, CT | $87,130 | $86,060 | $41.89 | 50 |
| Chicago, IL | $87,080 | $85,610 | $41.87 | 130 |
| Columbia, SC | $86,590 | $89,990 | $41.63 | 50 |
| Salem, OR | $86,510 | $89,220 | $41.59 | 110 |
| Dallas, TX | $86,240 | $82,310 | $41.46 | 40 |
| Houston, TX | $85,450 | $83,720 | $41.08 | 70 |
| Washington, DC | $85,330 | $74,710 | $41.02 | 280 |
| Longview, WA | $83,630 | $78,460 | $40.21 | 30 |
| Spokane, WA | $82,810 | $76,600 | $39.81 | 80 |
| Austin, TX | $81,590 | $75,810 | $39.23 | 30 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $81,390 | $80,600 | $39.13 | 100 |
| Corvallis, OR | $80,320 | $81,450 | $38.62 | 40 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $80,090 | $74,710 | $38.51 | 50 |
| Olympia, WA | $80,050 | $76,600 | $38.48 | 110 |
| Boston, MA | $80,010 | $86,070 | $38.47 | 90 |
| Atlanta, GA | $79,120 | $64,110 | $38.04 | 60 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $78,950 | $76,330 | $37.96 | 50 |
| Orlando, FL | $78,610 | $70,340 | $37.79 | 40 |
| Eugene, OR | $78,430 | $79,980 | $37.71 | 60 |
| St. Louis, MO | $78,240 | $73,950 | $37.61 | 30 |
| Lansing, MI | $77,480 | $67,750 | $37.25 | 40 |
| Charlotte, NC | $77,050 | $78,800 | $37.04 | 40 |
| Denver, CO | $76,690 | $69,010 | $36.87 | 60 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $76,520 | $71,040 | $36.79 | 50 |
| Medford, OR | $76,020 | $76,400 | $36.55 | 40 |
| Duluth, MN | $75,830 | $76,400 | $36.46 | 90 |
| New York, NY | $75,720 | $69,620 | $36.41 | 90 |
| Nashville, TN | $73,950 | $69,820 | $35.55 | 40 |
| Columbus, OH | $73,310 | $71,340 | $35.24 | 40 |
| Richmond, VA | $70,970 | $66,430 | $34.12 | 70 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $70,510 | $64,610 | $33.90 | 40 |
| Madison, WI | $70,310 | $69,620 | $33.80 | 50 |
| Miami, FL | $69,140 | $58,820 | $33.24 | n/a |
| Tallahassee, FL | $68,610 | $66,470 | $32.99 | 30 |
| Rapid City, SD | $67,480 | $63,210 | $32.44 | 40 |
| Little Rock, AR | $66,770 | $61,890 | $32.10 | 40 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $65,660 | $66,110 | $31.57 | 50 |
| Boise, ID | $65,530 | $65,170 | $31.50 | 40 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | $64,070 | $66,000 | $30.80 | 30 |
| Gainesville, FL | $63,760 | $51,500 | $30.66 | 30 |
| Raleigh, NC | $62,630 | $49,790 | $30.11 | n/a |
| Baltimore, MD | $59,610 | $59,430 | $28.66 | 40 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $57,560 | $50,990 | $27.67 | n/a |
| Reno, NV | $55,580 | $48,620 | $26.72 | n/a |
Related jobs
- Food Scientists and TechnologistsU.S. average $95,360
- Biochemists and BiophysicistsU.S. average $129,840
- Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsU.S. average $83,020
- Biological Scientists, All OtherU.S. average $106,330
- EpidemiologistsU.S. average $97,890
- Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsU.S. average $116,840
- Life Scientists, All OtherU.S. average $107,860
- MicrobiologistsU.S. average $97,600
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Foresters salary: questions
Where do foresters make the most money?
In San Francisco, CA, with an average of $119,110 a year, among the 52 metro areas we cover.
What is the average foresters salary in the U.S.?
$79,170 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $76,400, so half of foresters earn more than that and half less.
What salary should foresters ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of foresters nationwide earn between $62,710 (25th percentile) and $91,640 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays foresters the most?
California, with a statewide average of $110,770 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is foresters pay the lowest?
Reno, NV, at $55,580 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
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 19-1032.
- 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.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.