Foresters Salary
Foresters in District of Columbia make a median of $74,710 a year, or about $35.92 an hour. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $68,617 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,146/month, about 44% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across District of Columbia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $75K get you in District of Columbia?
About foresters
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What this looks like in District of Columbia
Foresters pay in District of Columbia tracks closely to the national median, $75K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,146/month, which is 44.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, District of Columbia
Entry-level foresters (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Foresters salary by metro in District of Columbia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $75K | +0% | 280 |
Compare to other states
Track foresters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when District of Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forester afford a 2BR apartment alone in District of Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 44.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,146/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for foresters in District of Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new foresters typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,482/month. At HUD’s $2,146/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is forester a high-paying job in District of Columbia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $75K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does District of Columbia compare to the national average for foresters?
District of Columbia pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do foresters make in District of Columbia?
The median is $74,710 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,700, and experienced foresters can clear $103,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in District of Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,786/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,146/month, which eats 44.8% 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 foresters salary go in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 foresters salary is worth about $68,617 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do foresters 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.