Foresters Salary
Foresters in Kentucky make a median of $56,460 a year, or about $27.15 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $62,573 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 29.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Kentucky. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $56K get you in Kentucky?
About foresters
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for foresters in Kentucky runs about 26% below the U.S. median of $76K. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (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, Kentucky
Entry-level foresters (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track foresters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forester afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 29.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for foresters in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new foresters typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,996/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Kentucky?
Local pay runs 26% below the national median — $56K here vs. $76K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for foresters?
Kentucky pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — below the national median.
How much do foresters make in Kentucky?
The median is $56,460 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,940, and experienced foresters can clear $88,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,762/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 29.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a foresters salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 foresters salary is worth about $62,573 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.