Forester salary in Wisconsin
Foresters in Wisconsin earn a median of $66,010 a year ($31.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 570 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,090 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $76,400. Wisconsin ranks 34th of 44 states for foresters pay. There are 0.19 foresters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $68,220, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for foresters in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,780 | $23.45 |
| 25th percentile | $60,880 | $29.27 |
| Median | $66,010 | $31.73 |
| 75th percentile | $78,880 | $37.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,090 | $42.35 |
| Average (mean) | $68,220 | $32.80 |
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 | $5,500.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,750.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,538.85 |
| Weekly | $1,269.42 |
| Hourly | $31.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Forester salary in cities in Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $80,600 | 100 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $76,400 | 90 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $76,330 | 50 |
| Madison, WI | $69,620 | 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 Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,530 | $39.68 |
| Conservation Scientist | $79,540 | $38.24 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $78,480 | $37.73 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $66,200 | $31.83 |
| Microbiologist | $67,100 | $32.26 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $83,020 | $39.91 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $68,370 | $32.87 |
| Animal Scientist | $84,310 | $40.54 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $106,480 | $51.19 |
| Epidemiologist | $88,770 | $42.68 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $85,080 | $40.91 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $84,750 | $40.74 |
| Chemist | $78,730 | $37.85 |
| Biological Technician | $51,750 | $24.88 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for foresters in Wisconsin is $66,010 a year, or $31.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid foresters make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of foresters in Wisconsin earn at least $88,090 a year. The top 25% earn $78,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for foresters in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,780 a year, and a quarter of foresters earn $60,880 or less.
How many foresters work in Wisconsin?
About 570 foresters are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.