Forester salary
From 25 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 19-1032: Foresters
At a glance
- Median down 4% since FY2022. From $90,000 in FY2022 to $86,659 in FY2025 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Forester H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 25 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Forester jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 19-1032, Foresters). The median base salary is $85,000, 31% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $74,663 and $95,014.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | – | 0 |
| Level II · Qualified | – | 0 |
| Level III · Experienced | – | 0 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
What a Forester does
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.
Typical tasks
- Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
- Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.
- Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.
- Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
- Perform inspections of forests or forest nurseries.
- Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
Preparation
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET occupation: Foresters (19-1032.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Foresters), the median annual wage was $76,400 in May 2025, with 10,430 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $85,000, 11% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $62,440 | $50,790 |
| 25th percentile | $74,663 | $62,710 |
| Median | $85,000 | $76,400 |
| 75th percentile | $95,014 | $91,640 |
| 90th percentile | $132,608 | $109,700 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $62,440 |
| 25th | $74,663 |
| 50th (median) | $85,000 |
| 75th | $95,014 |
| 90th | $132,608 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2022 | $90,000 | $80,000 | $119,770 | 13 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2024 | $70,007 | $60,758 | $74,845 | 14 |
| FY2025 | $86,659 | $77,125 | $102,511 | 16 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 9 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Forester make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Forester jobs is $85,000 (25 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $74,663 and $95,014.
Do H-1B Foresters earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($85,000) is 11% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($76,400, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.