Forester salary in Virginia
Foresters in Virginia earn a median of $71,990 a year ($34.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 340 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,610 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $76,400. Virginia ranks 25th of 44 states for foresters pay. There are 0.08 foresters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $73,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for foresters in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,200 | $22.69 |
| 25th percentile | $59,680 | $28.69 |
| Median | $71,990 | $34.61 |
| 75th percentile | $85,330 | $41.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,610 | $48.37 |
| Average (mean) | $73,870 | $35.52 |
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 | $5,999.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,999.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,768.85 |
| Weekly | $1,384.42 |
| Hourly | $34.61 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Forester salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $74,710 | 280 |
| Richmond, VA | $66,430 | 70 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $93,620 | $45.01 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $96,030 | $46.17 |
| Conservation Scientist | $77,380 | $37.20 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $81,600 | $39.23 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $72,340 | $34.78 |
| Microbiologist | $77,820 | $37.41 |
| Epidemiologist | $84,930 | $40.83 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $73,920 | $35.54 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $105,780 | $50.86 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $93,590 | $44.99 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,800 | $43.66 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $140,670 | $67.63 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,230 | $39.53 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $67,240 | $32.33 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for foresters in Virginia is $71,990 a year, or $34.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid foresters make in Virginia?
The top 10% of foresters in Virginia earn at least $100,610 a year. The top 25% earn $85,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for foresters in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,200 a year, and a quarter of foresters earn $59,680 or less.
How many foresters work in Virginia?
About 340 foresters are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.