Question: How much money do foresters make?
Answer: There was a great cartoon by Saxon printed in New Yorker Magazine in 1983. The drawing shows an expensively clothed father walking with his young son on a trail through the forest. He says to the boy, "It's good to know about trees. Just remember, nobody ever made any big money knowing about trees." Maybe so...
The Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that "Median annual earnings of foresters in 2008 was $53,750. The middle 50 percent earned between $42,980 and $65,000. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $34,710 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $78,350."
The report goes on to say the "Median annual wages of conservation scientists in May 2008 were $58,720. The middle 50 percent earned between $45,320 and $73,280. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,190, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $86,910."
Read the full report: The Department of Labor's Forestry Earnings
More on Forestry Employment and Careers from your About Forestry Guide
