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Forest and Conservation Worker Salary in U.S.

The salary statistics of forest and conservation workers are shown in Table 1. In the next few tables we compare the average salaries of forest and conservation workers within different industry sectors and in the 50 states of the United States. The forest and conservation workers annual salary statistics are from the national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 and published in April 2023 [1].

Table 1. Forest and Conservation Worker Salary in U.S. (2022 survey)

Percentile BracketAverage Annual Salary
10th Percentile Wage
$26,690
25th Percentile Wage
$31,200
50th Percentile Wage
$32,270
75th Percentile Wage
$39,690
90th Percentile Wage
$48,270

Table 1 shows the average annual salary for forest and conservation workers. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) forest and conservation workers is $48,270. The median annual salary (50th percentile) is $32,270. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent is $26,690. Note that in the United States, the annual salary of the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) is almost 80% higher than that of the bottom 10 percent.

Median salary trend (2012 to 2022)

The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of forest and conservation workers from 2012 to 2022.

YearMedian SalaryYearly Growth10-Year Growth
2022
$32,270
5.33% 24.57%
2021
$30,550
-0.29% -
2020
$30,640
-3.69% -
2019
$31,770
13.57% -
2018
$27,460
-0.69% -
2017
$27,650
2.57% -
2016
$26,940
2.78% -
2015
$26,190
-3.70% -
2014
$27,160
5.12% -
2013
$25,770
5.55% -
2012
$24,340
- -

Table 2. Forest and Conservation Worker Salary by Industry Sector (2022 survey)

The average salaries of forest and conservation workers in 13 major industry sectors are shown in Table 2. We note that the salaries vary considerably within different industry sectors. The highest paying industry sector for forest and conservation workers occupations is the utilities sector with an annual salary $55,600. The lowest paying sector is the administrative and support and waste management and remediation services sector (annual salary $29,630).

Industry Sector Median Annual Salary
Utilities
$55,600
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
$52,370
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
$41,490
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
$40,170
Educational Services
$38,460
Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)
$38,320
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
$37,940
Construction
$37,720
Manufacturing
$36,920
Wholesale Trade
$36,650
Health Care and Social Assistance
$32,270
Federal, State, and Local Government
$31,200
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
$29,630

Table 3. Median Annual Wage of Forest and Conservation Workers by States (2022 survey)

From the above tables we note that not only forest and conservation workers salaries vary considerably based on one's education and experience, and the industry sectors, they also change considerably from state to state. In the following table we compare the median salary of forest and conservation workers in all 50 states of the United States. We note that the median annual salaries range from $16,840 to $60,980. The highest paying state for forest and conservation workers is Michigan with a median annual salary of $60,980. The lowest paying state is Georgia with a median annual salary of $16,840. For more salary information of forest and conservation workers profession in a specific state, use the links in the table.

State Name Median Annual Salary
Michigan
$60,980
Idaho
$51,540
Arkansas
$49,190
Massachusetts
$48,110
Illinois
$47,190
Alabama
$46,610
Pennsylvania
$46,510
New Jersey
$45,430
Nevada
$45,190
Nebraska
$42,470
Washington
$40,440
Oregon
$40,390
Minnesota
$40,370
Arizona
$40,170
Hawaii
$39,330
Texas
$39,320
Ohio
$38,010
New York
$38,000
Colorado
$37,940
Maryland
$37,690
Louisiana
$36,170
Florida
$36,100
Indiana
$35,550
Delaware
$32,960
Oklahoma
$32,370
District of Columbia
$31,960
South Dakota
$31,900
Missouri
$31,280
California
$31,200
New Hampshire
$30,930
Mississippi
$30,400
North Dakota
$30,360
Connecticut
$29,530
Montana
$29,510
West Virginia
$29,280
Kentucky
$29,170
Utah
$28,460
Kansas
$27,920
Puerto Rico
$27,730
Wyoming
$27,650
Wisconsin
$27,020
Tennessee
$26,970
Iowa
$26,750
South Carolina
$26,310
North Carolina
$24,990
New Mexico
$23,920
Virginia
$22,570
Georgia
$16,840