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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

19-1032 Foresters

Manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. May inventory the type, amount, and location of standing timber, appraise the timber’s worth, negotiate the purchase, and draw up contracts for procurement. May determine how to conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality, and soil stability, and how best to comply with environmental regulations. May devise plans for planting and growing new trees, monitor trees for healthy growth, and determine optimal harvesting schedules.


National estimates for Foresters
Industry profile for Foresters
Geographic profile for Foresters

National estimates for Foresters:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Foresters:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
9,430 4.6 % $ 32.74 $ 68,090 1.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for Foresters:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 21.76 $ 24.86 $ 30.87 $ 38.30 $ 46.86
Annual Wage (2) $ 45,260 $ 51,710 $ 64,220 $ 79,660 $ 97,460


Industry profile for Foresters:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Foresters are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Foresters, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Foresters:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 2,890 0.14 $ 30.48 $ 63,400
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 1,290 0.02 $ 32.95 $ 68,540
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 1,280 0.06 $ 33.67 $ 70,040
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 1,120 0.06 $ 28.29 $ 58,850
Logging 590 1.28 $ 36.13 $ 75,160

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Foresters:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Logging 590 1.28 $ 36.13 $ 75,160
Sawmills and Wood Preservation 450 0.50 $ 38.58 $ 80,250
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 2,890 0.14 $ 30.48 $ 63,400
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 480 0.13 $ 42.06 $ 87,480
Social Advocacy Organizations 280 0.12 $ 29.21 $ 60,760

Top paying industries for Foresters:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) 90 0.01 $ 45.98 $ 95,630
Employment Services 40 (7) $ 44.52 $ 92,590
Utility System Construction 30 0.01 $ 42.86 $ 89,140
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 480 0.13 $ 42.06 $ 87,480
Management of Companies and Enterprises 80 (7) $ 39.40 $ 81,950


Geographic profile for Foresters:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Foresters are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Foresters, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of foresters by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Foresters:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 1,100 0.06 0.98 $ 34.83 $ 72,450
Wisconsin 520 0.19 2.92 $ 30.20 $ 62,820
Texas 470 0.04 0.57 $ 25.98 $ 54,050
Oregon 460 0.24 3.76 $ 35.24 $ 73,300
Washington 450 0.13 2.07 $ 35.98 $ 74,830


Map of location quotient of foresters by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Foresters:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Montana 190 0.39 6.05 $ 31.05 $ 64,590
South Dakota 160 0.37 5.79 $ 25.98 $ 54,050
Idaho 240 0.30 4.78 $ 32.23 $ 67,040
Oregon 460 0.24 3.76 $ 35.24 $ 73,300
Vermont 60 0.22 3.46 $ 32.65 $ 67,920


Map of annual mean wages of foresters by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Foresters:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New Jersey 30 0.01 0.12 $ 42.23 $ 87,840
Illinois 270 0.05 0.71 $ 40.28 $ 83,780
Pennsylvania 290 0.05 0.79 $ 38.39 $ 79,860
New York 250 0.03 0.44 $ 37.40 $ 77,800
Iowa 40 0.03 0.45 $ 37.28 $ 77,540



Map of employment of foresters by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Foresters:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 280 0.09 1.46 $ 33.52 $ 69,720
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 190 0.03 0.49 $ 40.37 $ 83,970
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 180 0.04 0.62 $ 41.15 $ 85,600
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 110 0.11 1.67 $ 42.32 $ 88,020
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 100 0.05 0.80 $ 35.00 $ 72,800
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 90 0.04 0.67 $ 43.35 $ 90,180
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 90 0.06 0.91 $ 28.34 $ 58,940
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 80 0.07 1.08 $ 37.13 $ 77,230
Salem, OR 80 0.44 6.89 $ 37.18 $ 77,320
Fort Collins, CO 80 0.45 7.01 $ 28.08 $ 58,400


Map of location quotient of foresters by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Foresters:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Coeur d'Alene, ID 50 0.78 12.22 $ 33.29 $ 69,250
Missoula, MT 40 0.64 10.01 $ 31.53 $ 65,570
Rapid City, SD 30 0.48 7.58 $ 27.98 $ 58,190
Fort Collins, CO 80 0.45 7.01 $ 28.08 $ 58,400
Olympia-Tumwater, WA 50 0.44 6.90 $ 29.69 $ 61,760
Salem, OR 80 0.44 6.89 $ 37.18 $ 77,320
Eugene, OR 50 0.33 5.17 $ 34.25 $ 71,240
Charlottesville, VA 30 0.28 4.43 $ 30.17 $ 62,750
Sioux Falls, SD 30 0.19 2.95 $ 29.67 $ 61,720
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA 40 0.16 2.58 $ 34.60 $ 71,960


Map of annual mean wages of foresters by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Foresters:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 90 0.04 0.67 $ 43.35 $ 90,180
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 60 0.02 0.38 $ 42.53 $ 88,460
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 110 0.11 1.67 $ 42.32 $ 88,020
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 180 0.04 0.62 $ 41.15 $ 85,600
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA 40 0.13 2.06 $ 40.81 $ 84,880
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 190 0.03 0.49 $ 40.37 $ 83,970
Salem, OR 80 0.44 6.89 $ 37.18 $ 77,320
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 80 0.07 1.08 $ 37.13 $ 77,230
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 60 0.02 0.37 $ 37.00 $ 76,970
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 70 0.01 0.12 $ 36.89 $ 76,730

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Foresters:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 140 0.75 11.78 $ 28.97 $ 60,260
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 120 1.71 26.87 $ 31.38 $ 65,270
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area 120 0.96 14.98 $ 35.89 $ 74,660
Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 110 2.70 42.39 $ 33.18 $ 69,020
Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area 110 0.97 15.20 $ 33.00 $ 68,640

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Foresters:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 110 2.70 42.39 $ 33.18 $ 69,020
Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 110 2.22 34.78 $ 29.54 $ 61,450
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 120 1.71 26.87 $ 31.38 $ 65,270
Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 110 0.98 15.36 $ 29.87 $ 62,130
Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area 110 0.97 15.20 $ 33.00 $ 68,640

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Foresters:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area 50 0.52 8.23 $ 45.50 $ 94,630
South Georgia nonmetropolitan area 40 0.22 3.38 $ 41.28 $ 85,870
Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area 40 0.26 4.13 $ 39.94 $ 83,070
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 30 0.31 4.93 $ 39.36 $ 81,860
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area 30 0.18 2.79 $ 39.26 $ 81,660


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023