Forest and Conservation Technicians salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Forest and Conservation Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $49,630 a year ($23.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 380 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,730 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $54,560. Pay here is 6% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $52,790. There are 0.09 forest and conservation technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.43). The average (mean) salary is $54,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for forest and conservation technicians in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| 25th percentile | $38,260 | $18.39 |
| Median | $49,630 | $23.86 |
| 75th percentile | $66,850 | $32.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,730 | $35.93 |
| Average (mean) | $54,010 | $25.97 |
Half of forest and conservation technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,135.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,067.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,908.85 |
| Weekly | $954.42 |
| Hourly | $23.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $49,630 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Forest and Conservation Technicians salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $48,610 | 60 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $45,330 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for forest and conservation technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | $68,600 |
| Alaska | $68,160 |
| Maryland | $64,980 |
| Wisconsin | $62,700 |
| Louisiana | $59,370 |
| Minnesota | $58,990 |
| California | $58,120 |
| New York | $58,030 |
| Colorado | $57,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,370 |
See Forest and Conservation Technicians pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Technician | $62,100 | $29.86 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $60,380 | $29.03 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $61,420 | $29.53 |
| Biological Technician | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Nuclear Technician | $99,990 | $48.07 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $112,790 | $54.23 |
| Food Science Technician | $66,630 | $32.04 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $64,890 | $31.20 |
| Agricultural Technician | $52,310 | $25.15 |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $85,390 | $41.05 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $83,240 | $40.02 |
| School Psychologist | $90,620 | $43.57 |
| Chemist | $90,920 | $43.71 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a forest and conservation technicians make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for forest and conservation technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $49,630 a year, or $23.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid forest and conservation technicians make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of forest and conservation technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $74,730 a year. The top 25% earn $66,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for forest and conservation technicians in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,880 a year, and a quarter of forest and conservation technicians earn $38,260 or less.
How many forest and conservation technicians work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 380 forest and conservation technicians are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.