Forester salary in Missouri
Foresters in Missouri earn a median of $63,220 a year ($30.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,630 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $76,400. Missouri ranks 39th 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 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $67,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for foresters in Missouri
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,240 | $23.19 |
| 25th percentile | $52,850 | $25.41 |
| Median | $63,220 | $30.39 |
| 75th percentile | $76,290 | $36.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,630 | $41.65 |
| Average (mean) | $67,030 | $32.22 |
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 | $5,268.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,634.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,431.54 |
| Weekly | $1,215.77 |
| Hourly | $30.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Forester salary in cities in Missouri
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Missouri
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $102,540 | $49.30 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $63,290 | $30.43 |
| Conservation Scientist | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $105,930 | $50.93 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $79,550 | $38.25 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $76,080 | $36.58 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $79,780 | $38.36 |
| Microbiologist | $78,590 | $37.78 |
| Epidemiologist | $66,890 | $32.16 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $83,090 | $39.95 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $50,410 | $24.24 |
| Chemist | $82,800 | $39.81 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $61,050 | $29.35 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Missouri
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 Missouri?
The median salary for foresters in Missouri is $63,220 a year, or $30.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid foresters make in Missouri?
The top 10% of foresters in Missouri earn at least $86,630 a year. The top 25% earn $76,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for foresters in Missouri?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,240 a year, and a quarter of foresters earn $52,850 or less.
How many foresters work in Missouri?
About 120 foresters are employed in Missouri, not counting the self-employed.