Foresters pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $121,270 or more. The middle half of foresters in Columbia earn between $66,310 and $96,480.
- $59K10th
- $66K25th
- $90KMedian
- $96K75th
- $121K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $86,590 | $7,216 | $41.63 |
| Median | $89,990 | $7,499 | $43.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,310 | $5,526 | $31.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $96,480 | $8,040 | $46.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Foresters pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Foresters in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($84,380) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($79,170). At the median the gap is +18% against the U.S. median of $76,400.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $86,590 | $89,990 | $59,310 | $121,270 | 50 |
| South Carolina | $84,380 | $86,780 | $59,310 | $102,670 | 250 |
| United States | $79,170 | $76,400 | $50,790 | $109,700 | 10,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Foresters salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $86,590, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $66,321 a year, or $5,527 a month and $2,551 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for foresters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $86,590 buys what about $92,449 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Foresters salary in nearby metro areas
- Charlotte, NC$77,050
- Raleigh, NC$62,630
- Atlanta, GA$79,120
- Jacksonville, FL$76,520
- Richmond, VA$70,970
- Tallahassee, FL$68,610
Highest-paying cities for foresters
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($119,110).
- San Francisco, CA$119,110
- Los Angeles, CA$119,020
- Sacramento, CA$118,560
- Fresno, CA$106,830
- San Diego, CA$98,060
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Foresters salary in Columbia: questions
How much do foresters make an hour in Columbia?
$41.63 an hour on average, and $43.26 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level foresters salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the foresters take-home pay in Columbia?
About $66,321 a year ($5,527 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $86,590.
Do foresters earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. average for this job ($79,170).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-1032; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.99, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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