Forester salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Foresters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $85,610 a year ($41.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,410 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $76,400. Pay here is 4% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $82,160. There are 0.03 foresters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.43). The average (mean) salary is $87,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for foresters in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,210 | $28.95 |
| 25th percentile | $66,950 | $32.19 |
| Median | $85,610 | $41.16 |
| 75th percentile | $107,390 | $51.63 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $120,410 | $57.89 |
| Average (mean) | $87,080 | $41.87 |
Half of foresters 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 | $7,134.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,567.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,292.69 |
| Weekly | $1,646.35 |
| Hourly | $41.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Forester salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $73,950 | 30 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $64,610 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for foresters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $107,120 |
| Massachusetts | $89,650 |
| Alaska | $87,210 |
| South Carolina | $86,780 |
| Maryland | $86,100 |
| Connecticut | $84,820 |
| Iowa | $83,000 |
| Illinois | $82,160 |
| Oregon | $81,450 |
| Vermont | $80,750 |
See Forester pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $83,240 | $40.02 |
| Microbiologist | $100,620 | $48.38 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $85,680 | $41.19 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $100,390 | $48.27 |
| Conservation Scientist | $62,710 | $30.15 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $80,360 | $38.64 |
| Epidemiologist | $103,780 | $49.89 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $79,780 | $38.36 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $85,780 | $41.24 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $70,690 | $33.99 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $85,390 | $41.05 |
| School Psychologist | $90,620 | $43.57 |
| Chemist | $90,920 | $43.71 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $101,630 | $48.86 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-1032. 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 forester make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for foresters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $85,610 a year, or $41.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid foresters make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of foresters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $120,410 a year. The top 25% earn $107,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for foresters in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,210 a year, and a quarter of foresters earn $66,950 or less.
How many foresters work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 130 foresters are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.