Foresters Salary
Foresters in Ohio make a median of $73,320 a year, or about $35.25 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $80,175 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 24.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Ohio?
About foresters
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What this looks like in Ohio
Foresters pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 24.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level foresters (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Foresters salary by metro in Ohio
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $71K | -3% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track foresters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forester afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 24.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for foresters in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new foresters typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,196/month. At HUD’s $1,188/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 Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for foresters?
Ohio pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do foresters make in Ohio?
The median is $73,320 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,270, and experienced foresters can clear $96,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,887/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 24.3% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $80,175 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.