Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Pennsylvania
$83,500 / year
≈ $6,950 per month · $40.14 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for Pennsylvania · median $81,000
25th percentile
$67,000Average
$83,50075th percentile
$95,000
$67,000Average
$83,50075th percentile
$95,000
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.
Forester salary by state
Alabama$78,500
Alaska$89,000
Arizona$72,000
Arkansas$71,000
California$114,500
Colorado$77,000
Connecticut$89,000
District of Columbia$86,000
Florida$74,500
Georgia$81,000
Idaho$67,500
Illinois$89,500
Indiana$70,000
Iowa$86,500
Kansas$75,000
Kentucky$66,000
Maine$71,500
Maryland$83,000
Massachusetts$89,000
Michigan$80,000
Minnesota$82,500
Mississippi$83,000
Missouri$69,500
Montana$74,500
Nevada$62,000
New Hampshire$74,000
New Mexico$75,500
New York$82,500
North Carolina$73,500
Ohio$78,000
Oklahoma$65,000
Oregon$85,000
Pennsylvania$83,500
South Carolina$87,500
South Dakota$68,000
Tennessee$76,000
Texas$85,500
Utah$78,000
Vermont$84,500
Virginia$76,500
Washington$87,500
West Virginia$66,000
Wisconsin$70,500
Wyoming$74,500
About this role
Forester is a professional role within the function in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Foresters do
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree
- 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 Listening Speaking Reading Comprehension Critical Thinking Complex Problem Solving Writing
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
$78,500State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
3,400 workers
$76,000Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
1,390 workers
$80,000Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
1,350 workers
$82,000Utilities
910 workers
$107,000Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
680 workers
$71,500Forestry and Logging
650 workers
$84,500Logging
650 workers
$84,500Wood Product Manufacturing
560 workers
$87,500Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
560 workers
$64,000National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Forester pays 18% below the average across 66 roles in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family (family average $100,500).
Similar-paying roles in Life, Physical, and Social Science
Forensic Science Technician$82,000
Survey Researcher$82,500
Historian$84,000
Conservation Scientist$80,000
Soil and Plant Scientists$91,000
Animal Scientist$91,500
Hydrologic Technician$72,000
Careers related to Forester
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Forester make?
The average base salary for a Forester in the United States is $82,000 per year, or about $39.42 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $65,000 and $95,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Life, Physical, and Social Science roles?
The Life, Physical, and Social Science job family averages $100,500 across 66 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Put this data to work
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