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Logger (faller): pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$52,100median pay per year, or $25.05 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $35,180lowest 10% earn less
  2. $41,36025th percentile
  3. $52,100median
  4. $63,39075th percentile
  5. $82,360top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

BLS counts tree-felling loggers as Fallers, and their median pay was $52,100 a year[1]. Jobs are projected to shrink 9.9% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-9.9%[2]
Openings per year
500[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do loggers make?

The BLS category for this work is Fallers. In May 2025, the median wage was $52,100 a year, or $25.05 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $57,110 a year, or $27.46 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980[4].

Pay varies a lot. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,180 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $82,360[3]. In hourly terms, that is less than $16.91 at the low end and more than $39.60 at the top[8]. BLS publishes percentile wages and no starting salary[9].

Level Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[3][8] $35,180 $16.91
25th percentile[3][8] $41,360 $19.89
Median[1] $52,100 $25.05
75th percentile[3][8] $63,390 $30.48
90th percentile[3][8] $82,360 $39.60

These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and benefits[10]. About 30.4% of fallers were self-employed in 2025, so a share of loggers is not in the wage data[11]. BLS counted about 3,130 wage and salary fallers in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state medians for 18 states[13]. Oregon came first at $84,490, then Idaho at $78,330 and Washington at $77,340[13]. Indiana was last at $26,210[13]. These are small groups, and some states have only a few dozen jobs[13].

Michigan had the most jobs, at 410[14]. Virginia had 330, and California had 260[14]. Among metro areas, Richmond, VA had about 40 jobs with a median of $40,560, and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA had about 30 jobs with a median of $76,940[15].

Show median pay in 18 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[13]$84,490180
Idaho$78,330190
Washington$77,340n/a
South Carolina$76,350130
Arkansas$67,060n/a
Louisiana$62,040200
California$59,590260
Maryland$58,30060
Mississippi$54,110140
Michigan$51,700410
Wisconsin$50,010n/a
Virginia$48,340330
Ohio$47,700n/a
Tennessee$47,56080
North Carolina$46,080200
Georgia$39,380170
New York$36,190120
Indiana$26,21040

How to become a logger

The training details below come from a BLS profile of logging workers, which covers a wider group than fallers[16].

Some vocational schools and community colleges offer associate's degrees or certificates related to logging or forest technology[21]. In some states, certain logging workers need a license or certification, and the rules differ by state[22]. Logging companies and trade associations also train people who run large machinery, and this often ends in a state-recognized safety certification[23].

BLS lists communication, decision-making, attention to detail and physical stamina as important qualities[24][25][26][27].

What loggers do

Fallers cut down trees with axes or chainsaws. They use what they know about each tree to control which way it falls and to limit damage[28]. Typical tasks include:

Workers in this field report job titles such as feller, timber cutter, sawyer and bucker[30].

Where they work

The work is physically hard and can be dangerous. Workers are outdoors all the time, sometimes in bad weather and often in remote areas[31]. The work involves lifting, climbing and other strenuous tasks, although machines have taken over some of the heavy labor[32].

BLS says logging workers have one of the highest fatality rates of all occupations, although deaths are uncommon[33]. Falling branches, vines and rough ground are constant hazards, and tree felling, log handling and chainsaws carry risks of their own. Workers follow safety rules and wear protective gear such as hardhats and safety glasses[34].

Full-time hours are typical for logging workers, and some put in more than 40 hours a week[35]. Schedules can include early mornings or long shifts, and work may be seasonal in some regions[35]. The logging industry was the largest employer of logging workers in 2025, at 49%[36].

Job outlook

BLS projects Fallers employment to drop 9.9% between 2025 and 2035, which is about 400 fewer jobs, from roughly 4,300 to 3,900[2]. All occupations together are expected to grow 3.5% over those years[37]. These counts include the self-employed[2].

BLS names mechanization as a factor. Logging equipment operators are expected to take over some tasks that fallers do now[38].

Still, about 500 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 6.2% of fallers leave the labor force and 6.9% move to a different occupation[39].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a job that needs a high school diploma and up to a year of on-the-job training[6][18]. Median pay is slightly above the all-occupations median, with a wide range[1][4][3]. The work is outdoors, strenuous and dangerous[31][33]. Employment is projected to shrink, and machines are expected to take over some tasks[2][38]. Anyone weighing this job should compare the pay with the physical risk and the declining job count.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[40].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a logger make an hour?
The BLS median for Fallers was $25.05 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $27.46[1][7].
Do you need a degree to be a logger?
The usual entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related experience needed[6]. Training on the job may last up to a year[18].
Is logging a growing field?
No. BLS projects Fallers employment to fall 9.9% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations grow 3.5%[2][37]. About 500 openings a year are still projected[5].
Which state pays loggers the most?
Among the 18 states with published data, Oregon had the highest median, at $84,490[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Fallers in the US was $52,100 per year and $25.05 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Fallers is projected to decline 9.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 4,300 to 3,900 jobs (a change of -400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Fallers: 10th percentile $35,180, 25th percentile $41,360, 75th percentile $63,390, 90th percentile $82,360. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 500 openings for Fallers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Fallers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Fallers was $57,110 per year and $27.46 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Fallers: 10th percentile $16.91, 25th percentile $19.89, 75th percentile $30.48, 90th percentile $39.60. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 30.4% of Fallers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 3,130 people were employed as Fallers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Fallers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Fallers jobs: Michigan 410; Virginia 330; California 260; Louisiana 200; North Carolina 200. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Fallers jobs: Richmond, VA 40 (median $40,560); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 30 (median $76,940). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Logging Workers" covers Fallers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. O*NET description of Fallers. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET task list for Fallers. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET 45-4021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Bucker, Cutter Operator, Feller, Logger, Sawyer, Timber Cutter, Timber Faller, Timber Feller. O*NET OnLine
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of logging workers in 2025: Logging 49%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  38. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Fallers: Occupational substitution - share decreases as logging equipment operators will continue to take over some of the tasks performed by fallers due increased mechanization. BLS Employment Projections
  39. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Fallers: 6.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  40. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.