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Logging worker: 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.

$49,740median pay per year, or $23.91 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $35,170lowest 10% earn less
  2. $43,97025th percentile
  3. $49,740median
  4. $61,05075th percentile
  5. $74,300top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

The median pay for logging equipment operators was $49,740 a year, a little under the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Employment is projected to fall 3.8% by 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-3.8%[3]
Openings per year
3,700[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do logging workers make?

The official BLS category is Logging Equipment Operators. In May 2025, the median wage was $49,740 a year, or $23.91 an hour[1]. Half earned above that figure and half earned below it[1]. The average was $53,190 a year, or $25.57 an hour[7].

The range is wide:

Per hour, the 10th percentile was $16.91 and the 90th percentile was $35.72[8]. A percentile is a boundary in the pay scale, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].

The median for all occupations was $50,980, so the median here was a bit lower[2]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses outside production and the cost of benefits[10]. That matters here, because 30.3% of the occupation worked for themselves in 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state pay for 36 states[12]. Washington had the highest median at $75,140, followed by Illinois at $71,100 and Texas at $62,890[12]. Kentucky had the lowest listed median at $30,230[12].

Alabama and Oregon each had 1,860 jobs, the most of any state[13]. Georgia had 1,620, Arkansas 1,280 and Mississippi 1,220[13].

Looking at metro areas with 100 or more jobs, Longview-Kelso, WA had the highest median at $76,980[14]. Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA was next at $75,140, then Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA at $74,790[14]. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA had the most jobs, with 300[15].

Show median pay in 36 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[12]$75,1401,150
Illinois$71,10040
Texas$62,890500
California$61,940950
South Dakota$58,74050
Oregon$58,7201,860
Louisiana$58,600770
Minnesota$58,590320
Montana$56,530190
Idaho$56,490560
Vermont$52,91060
New Hampshire$51,540170
Ohio$50,590260
Wyoming$49,65040
Colorado$49,62070
Mississippi$49,6201,220
Florida$49,370770
Massachusetts$48,960n/a
North Carolina$48,420990
Arkansas$48,2801,280
Alabama$47,8101,860
South Carolina$47,650920
Michigan$47,610860
New York$47,540290
Maryland$47,53060
Pennsylvania$46,880360
Wisconsin$46,360480
Indiana$46,320150
Tennessee$46,310400
Virginia$46,090570
Georgia$45,0801,620
Maine$44,780830
Missouri$41,770140
Oklahoma$37,270130
West Virginia$36,130310
Kentucky$30,230300

How to become a logging worker

BLS lists the typical path for logging equipment operators like this[6]:

In an O*NET survey of 18 workers, 55% said less than a high school diploma is required and 44% said a high school diploma or equivalent[16].

The training details below come from a BLS handbook profile that covers a wider group of logging jobs, not only equipment operators[17]. The profile says some jobs need no formal credential, while others need a high school diploma[18]. Some vocational schools and community colleges offer certificates or associate's degrees related to logging or forest technology[19].

On-the-job training varies in length and can run as long as a year[20]. It covers safety, logging practices and the machinery, and part of it takes place in the field[21]. Training can come from state agencies, trade groups or employers[22].

Some states require a license or certification for certain logging workers, and the rules differ by state[23]. Logging companies and trade associations also train people who run large machinery. That training often ends in a state-recognized safety certification[24].

What logging workers do

Logging equipment operators drive tractors and other machines fitted with tools such as grapples, blades and cranes. They use them to fell trees, move and stack logs, pull stumps or clear brush[25]. Typical tasks from O*NET include[26]:

O*NET job titles include feller buncher operator, skidder driver and harvester operator[27].

Where they work

This section also draws on the wider handbook profile[17]. The job is hard on the body and can be dangerous. Workers are outdoors the whole time, at times in bad weather and often far from towns[28]. The work involves lifting and climbing, though machines have reduced some heavy labor[29].

Logging workers have one of the highest rates of fatal injury among all occupations. Deaths are uncommon, and they usually happen through contact with a machine or an object like a log[30]. Falling branches and rough terrain are constant hazards, and power equipment can be dangerous, so workers follow safety rules and wear protective gear[31].

Logging workers are mostly on full-time schedules, and some put in over 40 hours a week[32]. Shifts may start early or run long, and the drive to a site can be long[32]. In some regions the work may be seasonal[32]. In 2025, 49% of logging workers were employed in the logging industry[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to fall 3.8% between 2025 and 2035[3]. That means about 29,300 jobs in 2025 and 28,200 in 2035, or 1,100 fewer[3]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[34].

Still, about 3,700 openings are projected each year[5]. These include jobs that open when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 6.2% of workers leave the labor force and 6.9% move to a different occupation[35].

BLS names increased mechanization as one factor. Equipment operators are expected to take over some tasks that fallers and other workers now do by hand[36].

Is it a good fit?

The entry path asks for a high school diploma at most, with no prior experience and on-the-job training[6]. The median pay is close to the all-occupations median[1][2]. The work is outdoors, physically demanding and carries real safety risks[28][31]. Employment is projected to decline 3.8%, though openings still arise each year[3][5]. Pay differs a lot by state, from $30,230 in Kentucky to $75,140 in Washington[12].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a logging worker make an hour?
The median was $23.91 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $16.91 and the 90th percentile was $35.72[8].
What education do you need to be a logging worker?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent for logging equipment operators[6]. The wider handbook profile says some jobs need no formal credential[18].
How long does logging training take?
The wider handbook profile says on-the-job training varies in length and can run as long as a year[20].
Is logging work in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 3.8% between 2025 and 2035, with about 3,700 openings a year[3][5].
What is the highest paying state for logging workers?
Washington, with a median of $75,140 a year, followed by Illinois at $71,100[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Logging Equipment Operators in the US was $49,740 per year and $23.91 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Logging Equipment Operators is projected to decline 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 29,300 to 28,200 jobs (a change of -1,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Logging Equipment Operators: 10th percentile $35,170, 25th percentile $43,970, 75th percentile $61,050, 90th percentile $74,300. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 3,700 openings for Logging Equipment Operators 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 Logging Equipment Operators: 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 Logging Equipment Operators was $53,190 per year and $25.57 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Logging Equipment Operators: 10th percentile $16.91, 25th percentile $21.14, 75th percentile $29.35, 90th percentile $35.72. 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: 30.3% of Logging Equipment Operators were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. Median annual wage for Logging Equipment Operators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Logging Equipment Operators jobs: Alabama 1,860; Oregon 1,860; Georgia 1,620; Arkansas 1,280; Mississippi 1,220. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Logging Equipment Operators (areas with at least 100 jobs): Longview-Kelso, WA $76,980; Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $75,140; Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $74,790; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $64,520; Salem, OR $62,740; Medford, OR $58,270; Eugene-Springfield, OR $58,170; Albany, OR $57,700. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Logging Equipment Operators jobs: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 300 (median $39,020); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 290 (median $64,520); Eugene-Springfield, OR 250 (median $58,170); Longview-Kelso, WA 180 (median $76,980); Tuscaloosa, AL 160 (median $46,510); Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 150 (median $50,370). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 45-4022.00 survey of workers (18 respondents), education level they say is required: Less than a High School Diploma 55%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 44% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Logging Workers" covers Logging Equipment Operators together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. 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: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. 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: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Logging Equipment Operators. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Logging Equipment Operators. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET 45-4022.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Delimber Operator, Feller Buncher Operator, Harvester Operator, Loader Operator, Log Processor Operator, Logging Equipment Operator, Logging Shovel Operator, Skidder Driver. O*NET OnLine
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of logging workers in 2025: Logging 49%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Logging Equipment Operators: 6.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Logging Equipment Operators: Occupational substitution - share increases as logging equipment operators will continue to take over some of the tasks performed by fallers and other logging workers who perform tasks by hand, given increased mechanization in the industry. BLS Employment Projections
  37. 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.