Forester salary in Pennsylvania
Foresters in Pennsylvania earn a median of $78,280 a year ($37.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 310 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $111,970 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $76,400. Pennsylvania ranks 14th of 44 states for foresters pay. There are 0.05 foresters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.77). The average (mean) salary is $80,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for foresters in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,590 | $22.88 |
| 25th percentile | $64,810 | $31.16 |
| Median | $78,280 | $37.64 |
| 75th percentile | $91,770 | $44.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $111,970 | $53.83 |
| Average (mean) | $80,550 | $38.73 |
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 | $6,523.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,261.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,010.77 |
| Weekly | $1,505.38 |
| Hourly | $37.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $99,190 | $47.69 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $134,090 | $64.47 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $100,780 | $48.45 |
| Conservation Scientist | $61,480 | $29.56 |
| Microbiologist | $84,650 | $40.70 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $83,380 | $40.09 |
| Epidemiologist | $87,860 | $42.24 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $83,680 | $40.23 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $70,550 | $33.92 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| Animal Scientist | $77,660 | $37.34 |
| Chemist | $77,090 | $37.06 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $87,050 | $41.85 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $91,870 | $44.17 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for foresters in Pennsylvania is $78,280 a year, or $37.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $111,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid foresters make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of foresters in Pennsylvania earn at least $111,970 a year. The top 25% earn $91,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for foresters in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,590 a year, and a quarter of foresters earn $64,810 or less.
How many foresters work in Pennsylvania?
About 310 foresters are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.