Forest and Conservation Workers Salary
Forest and Conservation Workers in Tennessee make a median of $40,320 a year, or about $19.39 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $44K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $44,910 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 41.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $40K get you in Tennessee?
About forest and conservation workers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Forest and conservation workers pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $40K locally vs. $44K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 42.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level forest and conservation workers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $44K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Forest and Conservation Workers salary by metro in Tennessee
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $40K | +0% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track forest and conservation workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forest and conservation worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 42.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forest and conservation workers typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,872/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $40K locally vs. $44K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for forest and conservation workers?
Tennessee pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $44K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do forest and conservation workers make in Tennessee?
The median is $40,320 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,200, and experienced forest and conservation workers can clear $44,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,870/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 42.3% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median forest and conservation workers salary is worth about $44,910 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.