Forest and Conservation Workers salary in the U.S.
Forest and Conservation Workers in the U.S. earn a median of $43,680 a year ($21.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,050 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,220 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $43,680, close to the median.
Pay range for forest and conservation workers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,780 | $16.24 |
| 25th percentile | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Median | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| 75th percentile | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,220 | $27.51 |
| Average (mean) | $43,680 | $21.00 |
Half of forest and conservation workers 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 | $3,640 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,820 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,680 |
| Weekly | $840 |
| Hourly | $21.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Forest and Conservation Workers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho | $59,460 | n/a |
| Hawaii | $56,330 | 60 |
| Virginia | $54,560 | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $51,890 | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,250 | 210 |
| Ohio | $48,470 | 160 |
| Arkansas | $47,310 | 30 |
| Oregon | $46,010 | 70 |
| Washington | $44,430 | 460 |
| South Carolina | $44,050 | 40 |
| California | $43,680 | 2,270 |
| New Jersey | $41,600 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $40,320 | 210 |
| Louisiana | $39,900 | 150 |
| Minnesota | $39,590 | 30 |
| South Dakota | $38,210 | 490 |
| Colorado | $37,690 | 110 |
| Missouri | $37,170 | 120 |
| Florida | $36,780 | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $36,420 | 300 |
| New Mexico | $36,370 | 30 |
| Nevada | $35,760 | n/a |
| Georgia | $34,150 | 160 |
| Connecticut | $34,010 | 40 |
| Iowa | $33,600 | 40 |
| Montana | $32,600 | n/a |
| Texas | $30,470 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for forest and conservation workers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $52,850 | 30 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $51,330 | 30 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $51,300 | 80 |
| Rapid City, SD | $50,110 | 40 |
| Cleveland, OH | $48,470 | n/a |
| Columbus, OH | $47,730 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $45,530 | 30 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $45,510 | 220 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $43,680 | 370 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $43,680 | 180 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,680 | 110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $43,680 | 330 |
| Salinas, CA | $43,680 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $43,680 | 140 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $41,610 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most forest and conservation workers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 370 | $43,680 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 330 | $43,680 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 220 | $45,510 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 180 | $43,680 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 150 | $37,470 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 140 | $43,680 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 110 | $39,490 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 110 | $43,680 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 80 | $51,300 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 60 | $41,610 |
| Salinas, CA | 50 | $43,680 |
| Columbus, OH | 40 | $47,730 |
| Rapid City, SD | 40 | $50,110 |
| Knoxville, TN | 30 | $40,320 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 30 | $52,850 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Logging Equipment Operator | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| Faller | $52,100 | $25.05 |
| Log Graders and Scalers | $46,330 | $22.27 |
| Logging Workers, All Other | $50,840 | $24.44 |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,660 | $17.15 |
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Agricultural Equipment Operator | $41,730 | $20.06 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $59,320 | $28.52 |
| Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products | $35,730 | $17.18 |
| Agricultural Inspector | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Agricultural Workers, All Other | $39,850 | $19.16 |
| Animal Breeder | $51,130 | $24.58 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 45-4011. 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 workers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for forest and conservation workers in the U.S. is $43,680 a year, or $21.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,220 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid forest and conservation workers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of forest and conservation workers in the U.S. earn at least $57,220 a year. The top 25% earn $45,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for forest and conservation workers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,780 a year, and a quarter of forest and conservation workers earn $37,440 or less.
How many forest and conservation workers work in the U.S.?
About 6,050 forest and conservation workers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.