Forester salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Foresters in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $107,690 a year ($51.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $90,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $163,650 for the top 10%. That is 41% higher than the national median of $76,400. Pay here is 1% higher than the California statewide median of $107,120. There are 0.02 foresters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.25). The average (mean) salary is $119,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for foresters in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,270 | $43.40 |
| 25th percentile | $101,690 | $48.89 |
| Median | $107,690 | $51.77 |
| 75th percentile | $133,880 | $64.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,650 | $78.68 |
| Average (mean) | $119,020 | $57.22 |
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 | $8,974.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,487.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,141.92 |
| Weekly | $2,070.96 |
| Hourly | $51.77 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $112,560 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $107,750 | 110 |
| Fresno, CA | $102,540 | 30 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $93,340 | 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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $134,890 | $64.85 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $96,380 | $46.34 |
| Microbiologist | $100,420 | $48.28 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $131,700 | $63.32 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $91,060 | $43.78 |
| Epidemiologist | $105,400 | $50.68 |
| Conservation Scientist | $76,940 | $36.99 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $104,740 | $50.36 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $82,490 | $39.66 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $83,490 | $40.14 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,610 | $49.33 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $99,250 | $47.72 |
| Chemist | $87,060 | $41.86 |
| School Psychologist | $122,390 | $58.84 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for foresters in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $107,690 a year, or $51.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $90,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $163,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid foresters make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of foresters in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $163,650 a year. The top 25% earn $133,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for foresters in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $90,270 a year, and a quarter of foresters earn $101,690 or less.
How many foresters work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 110 foresters are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.