Forester salary in Maryland
Foresters in Maryland earn a median of $86,100 a year ($41.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,500 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $76,400. Maryland ranks 5th of 44 states for foresters pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.04 foresters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.63). The average (mean) salary is $80,200, close to the median.
Pay range for foresters in Maryland
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,970 | $17.30 |
| 25th percentile | $62,260 | $29.93 |
| Median | $86,100 | $41.40 |
| 75th percentile | $95,150 | $45.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,500 | $52.65 |
| Average (mean) | $80,200 | $38.56 |
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 | $7,175 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,587.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,311.54 |
| Weekly | $1,655.77 |
| Hourly | $41.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Forester salary in cities in Maryland
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $74,710 | 280 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $59,430 | 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 |
Related jobs in Maryland
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $106,000 | $50.96 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $121,680 | $58.50 |
| Microbiologist | $108,470 | $52.15 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $100,650 | $48.39 |
| Epidemiologist | $101,830 | $48.96 |
| Conservation Scientist | $83,290 | $40.04 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $109,700 | $52.74 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $93,330 | $44.87 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $107,500 | $51.68 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $85,020 | $40.87 |
| Animal Scientist | $77,750 | $37.38 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $68,390 | $32.88 |
| Biological Technician | $52,900 | $25.44 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $131,810 | $63.37 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Maryland
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 Maryland?
The median salary for foresters in Maryland is $86,100 a year, or $41.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid foresters make in Maryland?
The top 10% of foresters in Maryland earn at least $109,500 a year. The top 25% earn $95,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for foresters in Maryland?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,970 a year, and a quarter of foresters earn $62,260 or less.
How many foresters work in Maryland?
About 120 foresters are employed in Maryland, not counting the self-employed.