Forester salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Foresters in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median of $80,600 a year ($38.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,600 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $76,400. Pay here is 5% higher than the Minnesota statewide median of $76,490. There are 0.05 foresters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $81,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for foresters in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,940 | $22.09 |
| 25th percentile | $69,090 | $33.22 |
| Median | $80,600 | $38.75 |
| 75th percentile | $101,570 | $48.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,600 | $49.33 |
| Average (mean) | $81,390 | $39.13 |
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 | $6,716.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,358.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,100 |
| Weekly | $1,550 |
| Hourly | $38.75 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | $76,400 | 90 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $76,330 | 50 |
| Madison, WI | $69,620 | 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 Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $102,940 | $49.49 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $80,540 | $38.72 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $101,760 | $48.92 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $79,610 | $38.28 |
| Conservation Scientist | $75,090 | $36.10 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $61,050 | $29.35 |
| Epidemiologist | $104,460 | $50.22 |
| Microbiologist | $85,340 | $41.03 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $81,380 | $39.12 |
| Animal Scientist | $76,530 | $36.79 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $64,610 | $31.06 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $99,170 | $47.68 |
| Chemist | $99,280 | $47.73 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $97,860 | $47.05 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The median salary for foresters in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $80,600 a year, or $38.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid foresters make in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The top 10% of foresters in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn at least $102,600 a year. The top 25% earn $101,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for foresters in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,940 a year, and a quarter of foresters earn $69,090 or less.
How many foresters work in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
About 100 foresters are employed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.