Forest and Conservation Workers Salary
Forest and Conservation Workers in Massachusetts make a median of $51,890 a year, or about $24.95 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $51,843 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 68.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in Massachusetts?
About forest and conservation workers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sits well above the national pay line for forest and conservation workers, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $44K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 68.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level forest and conservation workers (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Forest and Conservation Workers salary by metro in Massachusetts
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $51K | -1% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track forest and conservation workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
Related careers in Farming & Fishing
Frequently asked questions
Can a forest and conservation worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 68.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for forest and conservation workers in Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forest and conservation workers typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,110/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 111% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is forest and conservation worker a high-paying job in Massachusetts?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $52K here vs. $44K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for forest and conservation workers?
Massachusetts pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $44K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do forest and conservation workers make in Massachusetts?
The median is $51,890 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,160, and experienced forest and conservation workers can clear $73,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,428/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 68.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a forest and conservation workers salary go in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median forest and conservation workers salary is worth about $51,843 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do forest and conservation workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.