45 Series · SOC 45-4023
Log Graders and Scalers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $46,330
- Median / year
- $62,400
- Top 10% earn
- -0.7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 3,070
- US workers
Log Graders and Scalers earn a median of $46,330 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $46,330, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $34,950 (10th percentile) to $62,400 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 3,070 US workers. Washington pays the most ($61,580), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Log Graders and Scalers earn a median of $46,330, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 23% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Farming, Fishing, and Forestry, it ranks #7 of 13 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 0.7% by 2033.
- $46,330
- Median annual wage
- Top 77%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #7 of 13
- in Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
- 1.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Washington at $61,580. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Log Graders and Scalers (SOC 45-4023) pays a national median of $46,330 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $34,950 at the 10th percentile to $62,400 at the 90th, with a mean of $47,770 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 3,070 Americans work in this occupation across 25 reporting states and 19 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -0.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 600 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 23.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $61,580, which is +33% above the national figure. The top metro is Western Washington nonmetropolitan area at $68,170 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$46,330
per year
Median Hourly
$22.27/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$47,770
average
Employment
3,070
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Log Graders and Scalers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$46,330 Bottom 23% higher than 23% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 45-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Log Graders and Scalers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 13 45-series occupations with growth data, Log Graders and Scalers sits on the slower-growing side at -0.7% growth and $46,330 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-0.7%
Declining
Annual Openings
600
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
23.5/100K
Injury Rate
2.2/100
Danger Index
20.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Log Graders and Scalers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Paint identification marks of specified colors on logs to identify grades or species, using spray cans, or call out grades to log markers.
- ▸ Jab logs with metal ends of scale sticks, and inspect logs to ascertain characteristics or defects such as water damage, splits, knots, broken ends, rotten areas, twists, and curves.
- ▸ Identify logs of substandard or special grade so that they can be returned to shippers, regraded, recut, or transferred for other processing.
- ▸ Arrange for hauling of logs to appropriate mill sites.
- ▸ Weigh log trucks before and after unloading, and record load weights and supplier identities.
- ▸ Measure log lengths and mark boles for bucking into logs, according to specifications.
- ▸ Communicate with coworkers by signals to direct log movement.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$34,950
25th Percentile
$37,780
Median
$46,330
75th Percentile
$56,250
90th Percentile
$62,400
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 25 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $61,580 | +33% above national |
| 2 | Oregon | $60,250 | +30% above national |
| 3 | Idaho | $57,620 | +24% above national |
| 4 | California | $56,670 | +22% above national |
| 5 | Michigan | $51,810 | +12% above national |
| 6 | Maine | $50,180 | +8% above national |
| 7 | Ohio | $49,710 | +7% above national |
| 8 | Mississippi | $48,010 | +4% above national |
| 9 | Louisiana | $47,510 | +3% above national |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $46,530 | same as national |
| 11 | Indiana | $46,160 | same as national |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $46,150 | same as national |
| 13 | Kentucky | $45,330 | 2% below national |
| 14 | Alabama | $44,950 | 3% below national |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $44,550 | 4% below national |
| 16 | South Carolina | $44,370 | 4% below national |
| 17 | West Virginia | $43,040 | 7% below national |
| 18 | Arkansas | $42,340 | 9% below national |
| 19 | Georgia | $39,830 | 14% below national |
| 20 | Florida | $39,040 | 16% below national |
| 21 | Missouri | $37,440 | 19% below national |
| 22 | North Carolina | $36,850 | 20% below national |
| 23 | Virginia | $36,220 | 22% below national |
| 24 | Texas | $36,100 | 22% below national |
| 25 | Tennessee | $35,920 | 22% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 19 metro areas →
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 45 (farming fishing and forestry) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Log Graders and Scalers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $56,250/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $61,580/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.