Forester salary in Illinois
Foresters in Illinois earn a median of $82,160 a year ($39.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 220 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,150 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $76,400. Illinois ranks 8th of 44 states for foresters pay. There are 0.04 foresters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $86,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for foresters in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| 25th percentile | $73,490 | $35.33 |
| Median | $82,160 | $39.50 |
| 75th percentile | $105,580 | $50.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $120,150 | $57.77 |
| Average (mean) | $86,700 | $41.69 |
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 | $6,846.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,423.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,160 |
| Weekly | $1,580 |
| Hourly | $39.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Forester salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $85,610 | 130 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $73,950 | 30 |
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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,330 | $39.58 |
| Microbiologist | $92,050 | $44.26 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $82,640 | $39.73 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $79,490 | $38.21 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $94,340 | $45.35 |
| Conservation Scientist | $69,590 | $33.46 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $79,780 | $38.36 |
| Epidemiologist | $102,720 | $49.39 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $66,190 | $31.82 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $87,010 | $41.83 |
| Animal Scientist | $47,930 | $23.05 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,750 | $40.27 |
| School Psychologist | $84,690 | $40.72 |
| Chemist | $85,230 | $40.98 |
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 19-1032. 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 Illinois?
The median salary for foresters in Illinois is $82,160 a year, or $39.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid foresters make in Illinois?
The top 10% of foresters in Illinois earn at least $120,150 a year. The top 25% earn $105,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for foresters in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,230 a year, and a quarter of foresters earn $73,490 or less.
How many foresters work in Illinois?
About 220 foresters are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.