CareerFacts

All careers › Foresters

Forester: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$76,400median pay per year, or $36.73 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $50,790lowest 10% earn less
  2. $62,71025th percentile
  3. $76,400median
  4. $91,64075th percentile
  5. $109,700top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

The median pay for a forester was $76,400 a year in May 2025[1]. A bachelor's degree is the typical way in, and jobs are projected to grow 2.2% from 2025 to 2035[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2.2%[3]
Openings per year
900[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[2]

How much do foresters make?

Half of foresters earned more than $76,400 a year and half earned less[1]. That works out to $36.73 an hour[1]. The mean (average) wage was $79,170 a year, or $38.06 an hour[7]. For all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[5].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% of foresters earned less than $50,790 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $109,700[4]. The 25th percentile was $62,710 and the 75th was $91,640[4]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $24.42 and the 90th was $52.74[8]. A percentile is a boundary line, and BLS publishes percentiles rather than a starting salary[9].

These figures cover about 10,430 forester jobs paid a wage or salary[10]. They leave out self-employed people, and they leave out nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11].

Pay by state and city

California had the top state median at $107,120 a year, followed by Massachusetts at $89,650 and Alaska at $87,210[12]. Oklahoma had the lowest listed median, $50,990[12].

For job counts, Washington led with 950 forester jobs[13]. California had 820, Oregon 670, Wisconsin 570 and Minnesota 390[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA had the top median at $107,750[14]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA followed at $107,690, and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA at $89,780[14]. The metro area with the most jobs was Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, with 280[15].

Show median pay in 43 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[12]$107,120820
Massachusetts$89,650130
Alaska$87,21080
South Carolina$86,780250
Maryland$86,100120
Connecticut$84,82060
Iowa$83,00050
Illinois$82,160220
Oregon$81,450670
Vermont$80,75080
Texas$80,370210
Alabama$79,530240
Washington$78,460950
Pennsylvania$78,280310
North Carolina$77,870n/a
Georgia$76,970370
Minnesota$76,490390
Colorado$76,400210
Michigan$75,920340
Utah$75,21040
District of Columbia$74,710n/a
New York$73,710280
Ohio$73,320160
Tennessee$71,990120
Virginia$71,990340
Mississippi$71,280110
Arkansas$69,240130
New Mexico$69,24050
Wyoming$68,18060
Kansas$67,54040
Arizona$67,20070
Montana$67,200240
Maine$66,48070
Wisconsin$66,010570
Idaho$65,170280
New Hampshire$65,170110
South Dakota$64,460120
Florida$64,130380
Missouri$63,220120
West Virginia$62,550100
Indiana$61,110160
Kentucky$56,460120
Nevada$51,070n/a
Oklahoma$50,990120

How to become a forester

BLS lists no work experience in a related occupation and no on-the-job training as typical for entry[2]. The degree is usually in forestry or a related field, for example natural resources, agriculture or biology[20]. O*NET places the job in Job Zone Four, which means considerable preparation is needed[21].

Useful qualities include analytical, communication, critical-thinking and management skills, plus physical stamina[22][23][24][25][26].

What foresters do

O*NET describes the work as managing forested land for economic, recreational and conservation purposes[27]. Typical tasks include:

Job titles that workers report include Area Forester, District Forester, Procurement Forester and Service Forester[29].

Where they work

Conservation scientists and foresters work in offices, in laboratories and outdoors, sometimes in remote places[30]. They wear protective gear near logging operations and for fire suppression work, and natural hazards such as insect bites and poisonous plants carry some risk[30]. The work can be physically demanding, with long walks through dense trees in all kinds of weather[31].

Full-time work is typical, and schedules may vary to include weekends. Some people work more than 40 hours a week, for example when traveling to remote locations[32]. State government was the largest employer in the wider group, at 28% in 2025[33]. Only 0.5% of foresters were self-employed in 2025[34].

Job outlook

BLS projects forester employment to grow 2.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 13,200 to 13,500 jobs[3]. These counts include self-employed workers[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[35]. So foresters are projected to grow more slowly than the average.

About 900 openings a year are projected on average[6]. Openings come from retirements and moves to other occupations as well as from new jobs[6]. Each year, 1.8% of foresters leave the labor force and 5% move to a different occupation[36].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is above the all-occupation median[1][5], and the range from $50,790 to $109,700 shows that pay varies a lot from one forester to another[5][4]. The path is fairly clear, since a bachelor's degree is the typical entry requirement[2]. Growth is slow at 2.2%, though about 900 openings a year are projected[3][6]. The work involves outdoor conditions and sometimes travel to remote places[30][31]. Check your state's licensing rules before you plan your training[18].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a forester make an hour?
The median was $36.73 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $38.06[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a forester?
A bachelor's degree is the typical entry education[2]. Forestry, natural resources or a related subject is typical[20].
Is forestry a growing field?
Employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[3][35].
What is the highest paying state for foresters?
California, with a median of $107,120 a year[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Foresters in the US was $76,400 per year and $36.73 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Foresters: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Foresters is projected to grow 2.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 13,200 to 13,500 jobs (a change of +300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Foresters: 10th percentile $50,790, 25th percentile $62,710, 75th percentile $91,640, 90th percentile $109,700. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 900 openings for Foresters are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Foresters was $79,170 per year and $38.06 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Foresters: 10th percentile $24.42, 25th percentile $30.15, 75th percentile $44.06, 90th percentile $52.74. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 10,430 people were employed as Foresters in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Foresters in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Foresters jobs: Washington 950; California 820; Oregon 670; Wisconsin 570; Minnesota 390. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Foresters (areas with at least 100 jobs): Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $107,750; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $107,690; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $89,780; Salem, OR $89,220; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $86,310; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $85,610; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $80,600; Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $76,600. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Foresters jobs: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 280 (median $74,710); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 240 (median $86,310); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 180 (median $89,780); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 130 (median $85,610); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 110 (median $107,690); Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA 110 (median $76,600). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Conservation Scientists and Foresters" covers Foresters together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 19-1032.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. O*NET description of Foresters. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Foresters. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET 19-1032.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Area Forester, District Forester, Environmental Protection Forester, Fire Prevention Forester, Forest Silviculturist, Procurement Forester, Resource Forester, Service Forester. O*NET OnLine
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of conservation scientists and foresters in 2025: State government, excluding education and hospitals 28%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: 0.5% of Foresters were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Foresters: 1.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.