Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$82,000
National baseline
Target bonus
$9,500
11.7% of base
Total target cash
$91,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$5,50050th$9,50075th$15,500
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
Typical entry preparation: Bachelor's Degree and up to 2 years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
Plan and implement projects for conservation of wildlife habitats and soil and water quality.
Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.
Top skills:Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingWriting
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Forester pay by experience level
Entry level$52,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$65,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$79,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$95,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$113,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+1.2%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,100
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Forester salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
6,140 workers
$78,500
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
3,400 workers
$76,000
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
1,390 workers
$80,000
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
1,350 workers
$82,000
Utilities
910 workers
$107,000
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
680 workers
$71,500
Forestry and Logging
650 workers
$84,500
Logging
650 workers
$84,500
Wood Product Manufacturing
560 workers
$87,500
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
560 workers
$64,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
Plan and implement projects for conservation of wildlife habitats and soil and water quality.
Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
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