Forest and Conservation Technicians salary in Illinois
Forest and Conservation Technicians in Illinois earn a median of $52,790 a year ($25.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 820 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,390 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $54,560. Illinois ranks 26th of 45 states for forest and conservation technicians pay. There are 0.14 forest and conservation technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $55,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for forest and conservation technicians in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,950 | $17.77 |
| 25th percentile | $40,790 | $19.61 |
| Median | $52,790 | $25.38 |
| 75th percentile | $66,550 | $32.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,390 | $35.76 |
| Average (mean) | $55,010 | $26.45 |
Half of forest and conservation technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,399.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,199.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,030.38 |
| Weekly | $1,015.19 |
| Hourly | $25.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Forest and Conservation Technicians salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,630 | 380 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $45,330 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for forest and conservation technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | $68,600 |
| Alaska | $68,160 |
| Maryland | $64,980 |
| Wisconsin | $62,700 |
| Louisiana | $59,370 |
| Minnesota | $58,990 |
| California | $58,120 |
| New York | $58,030 |
| Colorado | $57,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,370 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Technician | $61,890 | $29.76 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $59,930 | $28.81 |
| Biological Technician | $55,790 | $26.82 |
| Nuclear Technician | $110,390 | $53.07 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $59,410 | $28.56 |
| Agricultural Technician | $46,410 | $22.31 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $124,790 | $60.00 |
| Food Science Technician | $60,820 | $29.24 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $64,890 | $31.20 |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $53,280 | $25.62 |
| Hydrologic Technician | $52,870 | $25.42 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,750 | $40.27 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,330 | $39.58 |
| School Psychologist | $84,690 | $40.72 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a forest and conservation technicians make in Illinois?
The median salary for forest and conservation technicians in Illinois is $52,790 a year, or $25.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid forest and conservation technicians make in Illinois?
The top 10% of forest and conservation technicians in Illinois earn at least $74,390 a year. The top 25% earn $66,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for forest and conservation technicians in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,950 a year, and a quarter of forest and conservation technicians earn $40,790 or less.
How many forest and conservation technicians work in Illinois?
About 820 forest and conservation technicians are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.