The average salary for a forester in South Dakota is around $64,460 per year.
Avg Salary
Foresters earn an average yearly salary of $64,460.
Wages typically start from $50,110 and go up to $80,700.
1% above national average Updated in 2025
Forester earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level forester earnings begin at:
$38.80 per hour
$80,700 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level forester earnings begin at:
$35.67 per hour
$74,200 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level forester earnings begin at:
$30.99 per hour
$64,460 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level forester earnings begin at:
$26.28 per hour
$54,660 per year
10th percentile
Starting level forester earnings begin at:
$24.09 per hour
$50,110 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Forester salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $89,650 |
| Alaska | $87,210 |
| South Carolina | $86,780 |
| Maryland | $86,100 |
| Connecticut | $84,820 |
| Iowa | $83,000 |
| Illinois | $82,160 |
| Oregon | $81,450 |
| Vermont | $80,750 |
| Texas | $80,370 |
| New Jersey | $80,300 |
| Alabama | $79,530 |
| Washington | $78,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,280 |
| North Carolina | $77,870 |
| Georgia | $76,970 |
| Minnesota | $76,490 |
| Colorado | $76,400 |
| Michigan | $75,920 |
| Utah | $75,210 |
| District of Columbia | $74,710 |
| New York | $73,710 |
| Ohio | $73,320 |
| Tennessee | $71,990 |
| Virginia | $71,990 |
| Louisiana | $71,420 |
| Mississippi | $71,280 |
| Arkansas | $69,240 |
| New Mexico | $69,240 |
| Wyoming | $68,180 |
| Kansas | $67,540 |
| Arizona | $67,200 |
| Montana | $67,200 |
| Maine | $66,480 |
| Wisconsin | $66,010 |
| Idaho | $65,170 |
| New Hampshire | $65,170 |
| South Dakota | $64,460 |
| Florida | $64,130 |
| Missouri | $63,220 |
| West Virginia | $62,550 |
| Indiana | $61,110 |
| Nebraska | $57,560 |
| Kentucky | $56,460 |
| North Dakota | $51,750 |
| Nevada | $51,070 |
| Oklahoma | $50,990 |
| California | $107,120 |
How do forester salaries compare to similar careers?
Foresters earn about the same as related careers in South Dakota. On average, they make less than environmental consultants but more than arborists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Environmental consultant salary | $68K |
| Industrial ecologist salary | $68K |
| Environmental restoration planner salary | $68K |
| Geologist salary | $71K |
| Cartographer salary | $73K |
| Forester salary | $64K |
| Landscaper salary | $61K |
| Biomass plant technician salary | $57K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $52K |
| Arborist salary | $50K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)