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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

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)
9,500 5.6 % $ 32.56 $ 67,710 2.0 %

Percentile wage estimates for Foresters:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 20.81 $ 24.28 $ 30.82 $ 38.23 $ 47.28
Annual Wage (2) $ 43,280 $ 50,510 $ 64,110 $ 79,530 $ 98,330


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) 3,010 0.14 $ 30.64 $ 63,730
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 1,320 0.06 $ 32.71 $ 68,040
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 1,050 0.02 $ 32.66 $ 67,930
Logging 880 1.87 $ 37.07 $ 77,100
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 640 0.17 $ 40.92 $ 85,120

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Foresters:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Logging 880 1.87 $ 37.07 $ 77,100
Sawmills and Wood Preservation 460 0.52 $ 38.65 $ 80,390
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 640 0.17 $ 40.92 $ 85,120
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 3,010 0.14 $ 30.64 $ 63,730
Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills 90 0.10 $ 32.56 $ 67,730

Top paying industries for Foresters:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Utility System Construction 40 0.01 $ 45.29 $ 94,210
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) 260 0.02 $ 44.03 $ 91,580
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 640 0.17 $ 40.92 $ 85,120
Real Estate 120 0.01 $ 39.11 $ 81,350
Sawmills and Wood Preservation 460 0.52 $ 38.65 $ 80,390


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 2021


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)
Washington 570 0.18 2.62 $ 40.00 $ 83,190
Wisconsin 520 0.19 2.82 $ 29.80 $ 61,980
California 520 0.03 0.46 $ 37.55 $ 78,110
Oregon 470 0.26 3.83 $ 34.55 $ 71,870
Georgia 450 0.10 1.52 $ 35.80 $ 74,470


Map of location quotient of foresters by state, May 2021


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 260 0.56 8.24 $ 30.38 $ 63,200
Idaho 360 0.47 7.01 $ 29.73 $ 61,840
South Dakota 130 0.30 4.47 $ 26.56 $ 55,240
Mississippi 330 0.30 4.41 $ 22.12 $ 46,010
Alaska 80 0.26 3.88 $ 37.86 $ 78,750


Map of annual mean wages of foresters by state, May 2021


Top paying states for Foresters:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 30 0.05 0.67 $ 51.50 $ 107,120
New Jersey 30 0.01 0.12 $ 43.77 $ 91,050
Washington 570 0.18 2.62 $ 40.00 $ 83,190
Illinois 270 0.05 0.72 $ 38.91 $ 80,930
Alaska 80 0.26 3.88 $ 37.86 $ 78,750



Map of employment of foresters by area, May 2021


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)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 150 0.04 0.54 $ 40.83 $ 84,930
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 100 0.03 0.52 $ 41.81 $ 86,950
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 100 0.05 0.81 $ 34.58 $ 71,920
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 100 0.09 1.27 $ 40.41 $ 84,050
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT 90 0.16 2.37 $ 36.47 $ 75,860
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 90 0.03 0.49 $ 35.24 $ 73,290
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 80 0.04 0.62 $ 46.26 $ 96,220
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 80 0.01 0.14 $ 35.05 $ 72,910
Fort Collins, CO 80 0.48 7.10 $ 27.02 $ 56,210
Missoula, MT 70 1.17 17.30 $ 32.02 $ 66,600


Map of location quotient of foresters by area, May 2021


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)
Missoula, MT 70 1.17 17.30 $ 32.02 $ 66,600
Coeur d'Alene, ID 60 0.89 13.20 $ 33.06 $ 68,760
Longview, WA 30 0.85 12.65 $ 38.38 $ 79,820
Rapid City, SD 40 0.55 8.16 $ 26.26 $ 54,630
Olympia-Tumwater, WA 60 0.55 8.11 $ 38.81 $ 80,720
Fort Collins, CO 80 0.48 7.10 $ 27.02 $ 56,210
Salem, OR 70 0.40 5.89 $ 38.39 $ 79,850
Tuscaloosa, AL 40 0.39 5.76 $ 30.25 $ 62,920
Medford, OR 30 0.35 5.20 $ 32.99 $ 68,630
Eugene, OR 50 0.32 4.77 $ 32.78 $ 68,190


Map of annual mean wages of foresters by area, May 2021


Top paying metropolitan areas for Foresters:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 60 0.01 0.14 $ 46.55 $ 96,820
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 80 0.04 0.62 $ 46.26 $ 96,220
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 30 0.01 0.19 $ 43.42 $ 90,320
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 60 0.06 0.96 $ 42.97 $ 89,390
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 100 0.03 0.52 $ 41.81 $ 86,950
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 150 0.04 0.54 $ 40.83 $ 84,930
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 100 0.09 1.27 $ 40.41 $ 84,050
Pittsburgh, PA 40 0.03 0.52 $ 39.70 $ 82,570
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA 40 0.13 1.90 $ 39.49 $ 82,140
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA (8) (8) (8) $ 38.93 $ 80,970

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)
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 200 2.89 42.90 $ 27.71 $ 57,640
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area 170 1.45 21.58 $ 40.38 $ 83,990
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 140 0.74 10.92 $ 28.54 $ 59,350
Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area 130 1.14 16.88 $ 32.45 $ 67,490
South Georgia nonmetropolitan area 120 0.64 9.51 $ 37.73 $ 78,480

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)
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 200 2.89 42.90 $ 27.71 $ 57,640
Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 90 2.19 32.42 $ 31.79 $ 66,120
Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 100 2.17 32.17 $ 29.21 $ 60,750
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area 170 1.45 21.58 $ 40.38 $ 83,990
Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area 130 1.14 16.88 $ 32.45 $ 67,490

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 Florida nonmetropolitan area 50 0.42 6.25 $ 45.85 $ 95,370
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area 50 0.50 7.35 $ 42.67 $ 88,750
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area 170 1.45 21.58 $ 40.38 $ 83,990
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 40 0.43 6.40 $ 39.98 $ 83,160
Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area 30 0.39 5.84 $ 39.61 $ 82,390


About May 2021 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.

(8) Estimate not released.

(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 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022