Foresters Salary
Foresters in Montana make a median of $67,200 a year, or about $32.31 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $69,278 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 25.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $67K get you in Montana?
About foresters
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for foresters in Montana runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $76K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level foresters (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track foresters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forester afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $67K, rent takes 25.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for foresters in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new foresters typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,054/month. At HUD’s $1,129/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 Montana?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $67K here vs. $76K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for foresters?
Montana pays $67K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do foresters make in Montana?
The median is $67,200 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,900, and experienced foresters can clear $86,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $67K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,400/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 25.7% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 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 $69,278 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.