Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages O*NET task lead SOC 45-4023

Log Graders and Scalers

O*NET task statements lead this Log Graders and Scalers card before OEWS pay; neighboring titles include First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers, Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse, Agricultural Workers, All Other, Agricultural Equipment Operators.

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Log Graders and Scalers: First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers ($59K) , Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse ($36K) , Agricultural Workers, All Other ($40K) , Agricultural Equipment Operators ($42K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Log Graders and Scalers publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 45-4023 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Evaluate log characteristics and determine grades, using established criteria
  2. 2. Record data about individual trees or load volumes into tally books or hand-held collection terminals
  3. 3. Measure felled logs or loads of pulpwood to calculate volume, weight, dimensions, and marketable value, using measuring devices and conve…
  4. 4. Paint identification marks of specified colors on logs to identify grades or species, using spray cans, or call out grades to log markers
  5. 5. Jab logs with metal ends of scale sticks, and inspect logs to ascertain characteristics or defects such as water damage, splits, knots, b…
  6. 6. Identify logs of substandard or special grade so that they can be returned to shippers, regraded, recut, or transferred for other processing
  7. 7. Arrange for hauling of logs to appropriate mill sites
  8. 8. Weigh log trucks before and after unloading, and record load weights and supplier identities
  9. 9. Measure log lengths and mark boles for bucking into logs, according to specifications
  10. 10. Communicate with coworkers by signals to direct log movement
  11. 11. Drive to sawmills, wharfs, or skids to inspect logs or pulpwood
  12. 12. Saw felled trees into lengths

Log Graders and Scalers: O*NET ranks Active Listening first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 45-4023 - lead skill Active Listening at 3.3 ; lead knowledge Production and Processing. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Active Listening 3.3
  2. 2. Critical Thinking 3.3
  3. 3. Speaking 3.1
  4. 4. Writing 3.0
  5. 5. Active Learning 3.0
  6. 6. Monitoring 3.0
  7. 7. Coordination 3.0
  8. 8. Judgment and Decision Making 3.0

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Production and Processing 3.8
  2. 2. Mathematics 3.3
  3. 3. Customer and Personal Service 3.1
  4. 4. Administration and Management 3.0
  5. 5. Mechanical 2.7
  6. 6. Education and Training 2.7
National median after O*NET task lead
$46,330
/year · 12 published task lines above
Lead task: Evaluate log characteristics and determine grades, using established criteria
$46K
National median
↓ -1%
Growth 2024-2034
600
Annual openings
3,070
Estimated US jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
Highest-pay peer · $59K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Top Paying States for Log Graders and Scalers

1. Michigan $51,810
2. California $56,670
3. Mississippi $48,010
4. Ohio $49,710
5. New Hampshire $46,530
6. Louisiana $47,510
7. Idaho $57,620
8. Washington $61,580
9. Oregon $60,250
10. Maine $50,180

Other Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations titles

  1. 1. First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers $59,320
  2. 2. Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse $35,660
  3. 3. Agricultural Workers, All Other $39,850
  4. 4. Agricultural Equipment Operators $41,730
  5. 5. Logging Workers, All Other $50,840
  6. 6. Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals $36,670

O*NET publishes 12 leading task statements for Log Graders and Scalers (SOC 45-4023). The national OEWS median is $46,330 inside Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations. Same-group neighbors: First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers, Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse, Agricultural Workers, All Other, Agricultural Equipment Operators. Lead published task: Evaluate log characteristics and determine grades, using established criteria.

Employment Projections expect -1% change between 2024 and 2034 (declining vs baseline 3.1%). About 600 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Michigan at $51,810. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers at $59,320. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Log Graders and Scalers pay-rank #7 in Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations

Log Graders and Scalers sits at pay-rank #7 of 13 detailed Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations, the middle third of the major-group median table. ROW_NUMBER on median; title breaks ties.

Other mid-table titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

SOC 45-4023 · national median $46,330 · middle third of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations (#7/13). The day-to-day tasks above set this role apart from peers with a similar title.

Log Graders and Scalers salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 45-4023

Michigan · top state for Log Graders and Scalers

$52K published median

California · #2 state pay

$57K · behind Michigan

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

Highest-pay peer vs Log Graders and Scalers · $59K

Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse

Lower-pay peer beside Log Graders and Scalers · $36K

Compare Log Graders and Scalers

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Log Graders and Scalers with another occupation →

Role and task next reads

Log Graders and Scalers full salary map

State and metro OEWS after the task lead

Compare tasks and pay

Side-by-side with another occupation

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Log Graders and Scalers mid-table among Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations? ▼
Yes: pay-rank #7 of 13 detailed Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations, the middle third. Mid-table neighbors: Forest and Conservation Workers ($44K), Logging Equipment Operators ($50K), Agricultural Equipment Operators ($42K). ROW_NUMBER on median; title breaks ties.
What do log graders and scalers do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Log Graders and Scalers. Leading ones include: 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 conve…; Paint identification marks of specified colors on logs to identify grades or species, using spray cans, or call out grades to log markers. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for log graders and scalers? ▼
For SOC 45-4023, O*NET importance scores lead with Active Listening (3.3), Critical Thinking (3.3), Speaking (3.1), Writing (3.0). Knowledge areas emphasize Production and Processing, Mathematics, Customer and Personal Service. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
What is the OEWS national median for Log Graders and Scalers? ▼
May 2025 OEWS reports $46,330 as the national median for Log Graders and Scalers. The published 10th-90th range is $34,950 to $62,400. Beside First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers ($59,320), this is the occupation-level national figure, not a local offer.
What employment change does BLS publish for Log Graders and Scalers? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Log Graders and Scalers is -1%. Projected annual openings: about 600. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: declining.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Log Graders and Scalers? ▼
BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Log Graders and Scalers. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Log Graders and Scalers? ▼
Michigan ($51,810), California ($56,670), Mississippi ($48,010) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Log Graders and Scalers card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 45-4023. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Log Graders and Scalers. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics