Forestry & Natural Resources Degree in Pittsburgh, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Forestry & Natural Resources degree analysis for Pittsburgh, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$75K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.2 yrs
in Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
115
index (100 = avg)
Forestry & Natural Resources in Pittsburgh, PA Overview
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (pop. 302,971) has 12 colleges offering Forestry & Natural Resources programs. The local cost of living index of 115 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,285/month. Forestry & Natural Resources enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Forest Management and GIS. The adjusted starting salary in Pittsburgh is approximately $57,500.
Category
Agriculture
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$19,718/yr
Private Tuition
$61,344/yr
Room & Board
$15,793/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,441/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
63%
Forestry & Natural Resources Salary in Pittsburgh (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pittsburgh's cost of living index of 115 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Forestry & Natural Resources salary: $50,000 starting, $65,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.Pittsburgh adjustment factor: 1.15x based on the local cost of living index.
Forestry & Natural Resources ROI Calculator for Pittsburgh
Estimate your return on investment for a Forestry & Natural Resources degree using local Pittsburgh tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $19,718 | Private avg: $61,344
Pittsburgh avg aid: $13,441/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$142,044
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,250
vs HS diploma in Pittsburgh
ROI Payback Period
8.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pittsburgh
$294,956
Lifetime earnings premium ($437,000) minus total education cost ($142,044)
Student Loan Payoff for Forestry & Natural Resources in Pittsburgh
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pittsburgh for Forestry & Natural Resources
University of Pittsburgh
public
$19,718/yr
$78,872 total
Carnegie Mellon University
private
$61,344/yr
$245,376 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Allegheny County
$5,070/yr
Top Employers for Forestry & Natural Resources in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh offers opportunities in Agribusiness, Government agencies, Research institutes for Forestry & Natural Resources graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pittsburgh Hiring Sectors for Agriculture
Agribusiness
Government agencies
Research institutes
Food companies
Conservation orgs
Common Forestry & Natural Resources Job Titles
Forestry & Natural Resources in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Philadelphia, PA
$75K starting · COL 150
42 colleges
Allentown, PA
$57K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$59K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$47K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$63K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$46K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Agriculture Majors in Pittsburgh
Forestry & Natural Resources Degree in Pittsburgh — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Forestry & Natural Resources ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Pittsburgh.