Forester salary in West Virginia
Foresters in West Virginia earn a median of $62,550 a year ($30.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,820 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $76,400. West Virginia ranks 40th of 44 states for foresters pay. There are 0.14 foresters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $63,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for foresters in West Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,910 | $19.67 |
| 25th percentile | $47,090 | $22.64 |
| Median | $62,550 | $30.07 |
| 75th percentile | $79,430 | $38.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,820 | $41.74 |
| Average (mean) | $63,560 | $30.56 |
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 | $5,212.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,606.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,405.77 |
| Weekly | $1,202.88 |
| Hourly | $30.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Forester salary in cities in West Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $74,710 | 280 |
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 West Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,690 | $39.76 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $84,590 | $40.67 |
| Conservation Scientist | $69,910 | $33.61 |
| Epidemiologist | $70,540 | $33.91 |
| Microbiologist | $68,550 | $32.96 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $86,560 | $41.62 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $77,040 | $37.04 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $52,590 | $25.28 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $51,140 | $24.59 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $81,470 | $39.17 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,100 | $39.47 |
| School Psychologist | $75,220 | $36.16 |
| Chemical Technician | $58,750 | $28.24 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $59,750 | $28.73 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in West 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 West Virginia?
The median salary for foresters in West Virginia is $62,550 a year, or $30.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid foresters make in West Virginia?
The top 10% of foresters in West Virginia earn at least $86,820 a year. The top 25% earn $79,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for foresters in West Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,910 a year, and a quarter of foresters earn $47,090 or less.
How many foresters work in West Virginia?
About 100 foresters are employed in West Virginia, not counting the self-employed.