As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Forest Ecologist in the United States is $59,612 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.
However, a Forest Ecologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Forest Ecologist Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $65,868 | $5,489 | $1,267 | $32 |
| Average | $59,612 | $4,968 | $1,146 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,427 | $4,452 | $1,027 | $26 |
A Forest Ecologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Forest Ecologist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Forest Ec... Level Forest Ecologist | $59,152 |
| Meeting/E... Level Forest Ecologist | $66,707 |
| Meeting/E... Level Forest Ecologist | $91,674 |
| Meeting/E... Level Forest Ecologist | $112,230 |
| Meeting/E... Level Forest Ecologist | $94,675 |
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Planning | 13.84% |
| Event Marketing | 1.72% |
| Customer Engagement | 1.39% |
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Forest Ecologist's salary.
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain | $69,150 | |
| Merchandising | $66,169 | |
| Project Management | $64,977 |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Forest Ecologists enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Forest Ecologist with a No Diploma is between $60,780 and $64,386).
| Typical Education for Forest Ecologist | |
|---|---|
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
| No Diploma | 0.3% |
| High School | 11.8% |
| Associates | 7.6% |
| Bachelors | 72.4% |
| Masters | 7.0% |
| Doctorate | 0.9% |
Understanding how a Forest Ecologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $65,868 | $5,489 | $1,267 | $32 |
| Average | $59,612 | $4,968 | $1,146 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,427 | $4,452 | $1,027 | $26 |
Salaries for a Forest Ecologist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $61,470 in 2023 to around $59,291 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Forest Ecologist salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | View More |
| 2023 | $61,470 |
| 2024 | $60,485 |
| 2025 | $59,291 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Forest Ecologist roles, with salaries approximately 22% above the market median.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers: