Foresters Salary
Foresters in Missouri make a median of $63,220 a year, or about $30.39 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $87K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $71,058 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 26.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in Missouri?
About foresters
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for foresters in Missouri runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $76K. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Missouri
Entry-level foresters (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $87K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Foresters salary by metro in Missouri
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $74K | +17% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track foresters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forester afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 26% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for foresters in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new foresters typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,894/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Missouri?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $63K here vs. $76K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for foresters?
Missouri pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — below the national median.
How much do foresters make in Missouri?
The median is $63,220 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,240, and experienced foresters can clear $86,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,218/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 26% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $71,058 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.