Forester salary in Washington
Foresters in Washington earn a median of $78,460 a year ($37.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 950 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,320 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $76,400. Washington ranks 13th of 44 states for foresters pay. There are 0.27 foresters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $84,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for foresters in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,830 | $28.77 |
| 25th percentile | $67,270 | $32.34 |
| Median | $78,460 | $37.72 |
| 75th percentile | $103,760 | $49.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,320 | $57.37 |
| Average (mean) | $84,550 | $40.65 |
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 | $6,538.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,269.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,017.69 |
| Weekly | $1,508.85 |
| Hourly | $37.72 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Forester salary in cities in Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $89,780 | 180 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $86,310 | 240 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $78,460 | 30 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $76,600 | 110 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $76,600 | 80 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $74,710 | 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 |
Related jobs in Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $105,680 | $50.81 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $108,110 | $51.97 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $83,780 | $40.28 |
| Conservation Scientist | $78,450 | $37.72 |
| Epidemiologist | $108,240 | $52.04 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $79,970 | $38.45 |
| Microbiologist | $77,690 | $37.35 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $98,840 | $47.52 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $94,990 | $45.67 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $100,420 | $48.28 |
| Animal Scientist | $83,160 | $39.98 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $98,300 | $47.26 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,920 | $49.48 |
| Biological Technician | $60,800 | $29.23 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for foresters in Washington is $78,460 a year, or $37.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid foresters make in Washington?
The top 10% of foresters in Washington earn at least $119,320 a year. The top 25% earn $103,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for foresters in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,830 a year, and a quarter of foresters earn $67,270 or less.
How many foresters work in Washington?
About 950 foresters are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.