The average salary for a forester in California is around $107,120 per year.
Avg Salary
Foresters earn an average yearly salary of $107,120.
Wages typically start from $71,110 and go up to $156,750.
36% above national average Updated in 2025
Forester earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level forester earnings begin at:
$75.36 per hour
$156,750 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level forester earnings begin at:
$62.71 per hour
$130,430 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level forester earnings begin at:
$51.50 per hour
$107,120 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level forester earnings begin at:
$43.83 per hour
$91,170 per year
10th percentile
Starting level forester earnings begin at:
$34.19 per hour
$71,110 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Forester salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $98,750 |
| 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 |
| Texas | $80,370 |
| Alabama | $79,530 |
| Washington | $78,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,280 |
| North Carolina | $77,870 |
| Georgia | $76,970 |
| Nebraska | $76,730 |
| Minnesota | $76,490 |
| Colorado | $76,400 |
| Louisiana | $76,390 |
| Michigan | $75,920 |
| Utah | $75,210 |
| District of Columbia | $74,710 |
| New York | $73,710 |
| Ohio | $73,320 |
| Tennessee | $71,990 |
| Virginia | $71,990 |
| Mississippi | $71,280 |
| Arkansas | $69,240 |
| New Mexico | $69,240 |
| Wyoming | $68,180 |
| Kansas | $67,540 |
| Arizona | $67,200 |
| Montana | $67,200 |
| Maine | $66,480 |
| Wisconsin | $66,010 |
| Idaho | $65,170 |
| New Hampshire | $65,170 |
| South Dakota | $64,460 |
| Florida | $64,130 |
| Missouri | $63,220 |
| West Virginia | $62,550 |
| Indiana | $61,110 |
| Kentucky | $56,460 |
| North Dakota | $51,750 |
| Nevada | $51,070 |
| Oklahoma | $50,990 |
| California | $107,120 |
How do forester salaries compare to similar careers?
Foresters earn 7% more than similar careers in California. On average, they make less than urban planners but more than biomass plant technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Urban planner salary | $110K |
| Industrial ecologist salary | $107K |
| Environmental consultant salary | $107K |
| Environmental restoration planner salary | $107K |
| Climate change analyst salary | $107K |
| Forester salary | $107K |
| Energy auditor salary | $88K |
| Conservation scientist salary | $80K |
| Soil and water conservationist salary | $80K |
| Biomass plant technician salary | $78K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)