Log Graders and Scalers

Grade logs or estimate the marketable content or value of logs or pulpwood in sorting yards, millpond, log deck, or similar locations. Inspect logs for defects or measure logs to determine volume.

On the job, you would:

Evaluate log characteristics and determine grades, using established criteria.
Record data about individual trees or load volumes into tally books or hand-held collection terminals.
Measure felled logs or loads of pulpwood to calculate volume, weight, dimensions, and marketable value, using measuring devices and conversion tables.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Logging workers must communicate with other crew members so that they can cut and delimb trees efficiently and safely.

Decision-making skills. Logging workers must make quick, intelligent decisions when hazards arise.

Detail oriented. Logging workers must watch gauges, dials, and other indicators to determine whether their equipment and tools are working properly.

Physical stamina. Logging workers need to be able to perform laborious tasks repeatedly.

Physical strength. Logging workers must be able to handle heavy equipment.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		88%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		85%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		84%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		82%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		76%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		71%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		71%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		69%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		69%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		67%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		65%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		65%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		64%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		60%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		58%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		56%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		83%	Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
		61%	Conventional - Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		61%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
		56%	Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		72%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		66%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		60%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		60%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		56%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		56%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		56%	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
		53%	Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
		53%	Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
		53%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		53%	Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Direct material handling or moving activities.

Evaluate log quality.

Record agricultural or forestry inventory data.

Mark agricultural or forestry products for identification.

Measure physical characteristics of forestry or agricultural products.

Mark agricultural or forestry products for identification.

Measure physical characteristics of forestry or agricultural products.

Evaluate log quality.

Drive passenger vehicles.

Communicate with other workers to coordinate activities.

Record agricultural or forestry inventory data.

Cut trees or logs.

Operate forestry equipment.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		99%	Outdoors, Exposed to Weather - How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
		96%	Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
		91%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		89%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		84%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		82%	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
		80%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		78%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		75%	Exposed to Hazardous Equipment - How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
		73%	Very Hot or Cold Temperatures - How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
		70%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		70%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		69%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		67%	Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
		67%	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
		67%	Exposed to Contaminants - How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
		65%	Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
		64%	Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in non-controlled environmental conditions (e.g., warehouse without heat)?
		63%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		63%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		61%	Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment - How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
		61%	In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment - How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
		59%	Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing?
		57%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		53%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		52%	Spend Time Walking and Running - How much does this job require walking and running?
		51%	Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting?
		84%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		76%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		75%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		74%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		72%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		72%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		71%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		70%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		69%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		68%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		68%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		67%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		65%	Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
		64%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
		63%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		61%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		60%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		59%	Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
		58%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		55%	Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
		54%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		54%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		54%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		54%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		53%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		52%	Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

What Logging Workers Do

Loggers cut trees with hand-held power chain saws or mobile felling machines.

Logging workers harvest thousands of acres of forests each year. The timber they harvest provides the raw material for countless consumer and industrial products.

Duties

Logging workers typically do the following:

Cut down trees
Fasten cables around logs to be dragged by tractors
Operate machinery that drag logs to the landing or deck area
Separate logs by species and type of wood and load them onto trucks
Drive and maneuver feller–buncher tree harvesters to shear trees and cut logs into desired lengths
Grade logs according to characteristics such as knot size and straightness
Inspect equipment for safety, and perform necessary basic maintenance tasks, before using the equipment

The cutting and logging of timber is done by a logging crew. The following are examples of types of logging workers:

Fallers cut down trees with hand-held power chain saws.

Buckers work alongside fallers, trimming the tops and branches of felled trees and bucking (cutting) the logs into specific lengths.

Tree climbers use special equipment to scale tall trees and remove their limbs. They carry heavy tools and safety gear as they climb the trees, and are kept safe by a harness attached to a rope.

Choke setters fasten steel cables or chains, known as chokers, around logs to be skidded (dragged) by tractors or forwarded by the cable-yarding system to the landing or deck area, where the logs are separated by species and type of product.

Rigging slingers and chasers set up and dismantle the cables and guy wires of the yarding system.

Log sorters, markers, movers, and chippers sort, mark, and move logs on the basis of their species, size, and ownership. They also tend machines that chip up logs.

Logging equipment operators use tree harvesters to fell trees, shear off tree limbs, and cut trees into desired lengths. They drive tractors and operate self-propelled machines called skidders or forwarders, which drag or otherwise transport logs to a loading area.

Log graders and scalers inspect logs for defects and measure the logs to determine their volume. They estimate the value of logs or pulpwood. These workers often use hand-held data collection devices into which they enter data about trees.

A logging crew might consist of the following members:

one or two tree fallers or one or two logging equipment operators with a tree harvester to cut down trees
one bucker to cut logs
two choke setters with tractors to drag felled trees to the loading deck
one logging equipment operator to delimb, cut logs to length, and load the logs onto trucks

Work Environment

Logging workers held about 52,300 jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up logging workers was distributed as follows:

Logging equipment operators	35,300
Fallers	6,500
Log graders and scalers	5,600
Logging workers, all other	4,900

The largest employers of logging workers were as follows:

Logging	46%
Self-employed workers	28
Sawmills and wood preservation	11
Landscaping services	6
Forestry	3

Logging is physically demanding and can be dangerous. Workers spend all their time outdoors, sometimes in poor weather and often in isolated areas. The increased use of enclosed machines has decreased some of the discomforts caused by bad weather and has generally made logging much safer.

Most logging work involves lifting, climbing, and other strenuous activities, although machinery has eliminated some heavy labor. Falling branches, vines, and rough terrain are constant hazards, as are dangers associated with felling trees and handling logs.

Chain saws and other power equipment can be dangerous; therefore, workers must be careful and must use proper safety measures and equipment, such as hardhats, safety clothing, hearing protection devices, and boots.

Injuries and Illnesses

Despite the industry’s strong emphasis on safety, logging workers sometimes get injured on the job. And although fatalities are uncommon, fallers experience one of the highest rates of occupational fatalities of all occupations. Most fatalities occur through contact with a machine or an object, such as a log.

Work Schedules

Workers sometimes commute long distances between their homes and logging sites. In more densely populated states, commuting distances are shorter. Logging work is often seasonal, and workers can find more employment opportunities during the warmer months because snow and cold weather adversely affect working conditions.

Getting Started

Education:

64%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

12%

Some College Courses

How to Become a Logging Worker

Most logging workers have a high school diploma.

Most logging workers have a high school diploma. They get on-the-job training to become familiar with forest environments and to learn how to operate logging machinery.

Education

A high school diploma is enough for most logging worker jobs. Some vocational or technical schools and community colleges offer associate’s degrees or certificates in forest technology. This additional education may help workers get a job. Programs may include field trips to observe or participate in logging activities.

A few community colleges offer education programs for logging equipment operators.

Training

Many states have training programs for loggers. Although specific coursework may vary by state, programs usually include technical instruction or field training in a number of areas, including best management practices, environmental compliance, and reforestation.

Safety training is a vital part of logging workers’ instruction. Many state forestry or logging associations provide training sessions for logging equipment operators, whose jobs require more technical skill than other logging positions. Sessions take place in the field, where trainees have the opportunity to practice various logging techniques and use particular equipment.

Logging companies and trade associations offer training programs for workers who operate large, expensive machinery and equipment. These programs often culminate in a state-recognized safety certification from the logging company.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of logging workers is projected to decline 5 percent from 2022 to 2032.

Despite declining employment, about 7,100 openings for logging workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

The mechanization of logging operations and improvements in logging equipment have increased productivity, which is expected to reduce demand for logging workers. However, the need to prevent destructive wildfires by thinning susceptible forests is expected to support some employment.

Contacts for More Information

For information about timber-cutting and logging careers, visit

Forest Resources Association

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of logging workers.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Conservation Scientists and Foresters	Conservation scientists and foresters manage the land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources.	Bachelor's degree	$64,420
Construction Equipment Operators	Construction equipment operators drive, maneuver, or control the heavy machinery used to construct roads, buildings, and other structures.	High school diploma or equivalent	$51,050
Forest and Conservation Workers	Forest and conservation workers perform physical labor to improve the quality of natural areas such as forests, rangelands, and wetlands.	High school diploma or equivalent	$32,270