Foresters Salary
Foresters in South Carolina make a median of $86,780 a year, or about $41.72 an hour. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $93,142 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 23% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $87K get you in South Carolina?
About foresters
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What this looks like in South Carolina
South Carolina sits well above the national pay line for foresters, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $76K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 23.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, South Carolina offers a genuinely strong financial position for foresterss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level foresters (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Foresters salary by metro in South Carolina
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $90K | +4% | 50 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forester afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 23.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for foresters in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new foresters typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,559/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 South Carolina?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $87K here vs. $76K nationally.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for foresters?
South Carolina pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do foresters make in South Carolina?
The median is $86,780 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,310, and experienced foresters can clear $102,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,459/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 23.1% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $93,142 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.