Forester salary in Madison, WI
Foresters in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $69,620 a year ($33.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,010 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $76,400. Pay here is 5% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $66,010. There are 0.12 foresters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $70,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for foresters in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,530 | $20.45 |
| 25th percentile | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| Median | $69,620 | $33.47 |
| 75th percentile | $80,790 | $38.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,010 | $42.80 |
| Average (mean) | $70,310 | $33.80 |
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 | $5,801.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,900.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,677.69 |
| Weekly | $1,338.85 |
| Hourly | $33.47 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $80,600 | 100 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $76,400 | 90 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $76,330 | 50 |
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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $85,570 | $41.14 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $77,550 | $37.28 |
| Microbiologist | $67,940 | $32.66 |
| Conservation Scientist | $85,110 | $40.92 |
| Animal Scientist | $84,310 | $40.54 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $73,510 | $35.34 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $106,480 | $51.19 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $70,410 | $33.85 |
| Epidemiologist | $88,770 | $42.68 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $66,080 | $31.77 |
| Biological Technician | $51,750 | $24.88 |
| Chemist | $78,730 | $37.85 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $86,650 | $41.66 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,720 | $29.19 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for foresters in the Madison, WI metro area is $69,620 a year, or $33.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid foresters make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of foresters in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $89,010 a year. The top 25% earn $80,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for foresters in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,530 a year, and a quarter of foresters earn $59,400 or less.
How many foresters work in Madison, WI?
About 50 foresters are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.