45 Series · SOC 45-4022

Logging Equipment Operators Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$49,740
Median / year
$74,300
Top 10% earn
-1.4%
Growth '23–'33
21,060
US workers

Logging Equipment Operators earn a median of $49,740 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $49,740, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $35,170 (10th percentile) to $74,300 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 21,060 US workers. Washington pays the most ($75,140), since pay varies by state and metro area.

45 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Logging Equipment Operators earn a median of $49,740, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 32% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Farming, Fishing, and Forestry, it ranks #6 of 13 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 1.4% by 2033.

$49,740
Median annual wage
Top 68%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#6 of 13
in Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
2.1×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Washington at $75,140. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Logging Equipment Operators (SOC 45-4022) pays a national median of $49,740 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $35,170 at the 10th percentile to $74,300 at the 90th, with a mean of $53,190 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 21,060 Americans work in this occupation across 36 reporting states and 120 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -1.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 4,200 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 $75,140, which is +51% above the national figure. The top metro is Bellingham, WA at $77,310 - 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.

BLS OEWS May 2025 21,060 jobs Median $49,740/yr

Median Salary

$49,740

per year

Median Hourly

$23.91/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$53,190

average

Employment

21,060

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Logging Equipment Operators pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$49,740 Bottom 32% higher than 32% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

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 Logging Equipment Operators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 13 45-series occupations with growth data, Logging Equipment Operators sits on the slower-growing side at -1.4% growth and $49,740 median pay.

Among 13 45-series occupations with growth data, Logging Equipment Operators sits on the slower-growing side at -1.4% growth and $49,740 median pay. Scatter plot of 13 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000 -10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Farmworkers and Labo…Farmworkers, Farm, R…Agricultural Equipme…First-Line Superviso…Graders and Sorters,…Logging Equipment Op…Agricultural Inspect…Forest and Conservat…Agricultural Workers…FallersLog Graders and Scal…Logging Workers, All…Animal Breeders
Among 13 45-series occupations with growth data, Logging Equipment Operators sits on the slower-growing side at -1.4% growth and $49,740 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-1.4%

Declining

Annual Openings

4,200

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 →
B

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 Logging Equipment Operators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Operation and Control 4.0
Operations Monitoring 3.8
Equipment Maintenance 3.1
Active Listening 3.0
Monitoring 3.0
Troubleshooting 3.0
Quality Control Analysis 3.0
Critical Thinking 2.9
Complex Problem Solving 2.9
Repairing 2.9

Knowledge Areas

Mechanical 4.2
Public Safety and Security 3.5
Production and Processing 3.4
Transportation 2.7
Administration and Management 2.3
Customer and Personal Service 2.1
Engineering and Technology 2.0
Mathematics 1.9
Physics 1.9
Education and Training 1.9

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Inspect equipment for safety prior to use, and perform necessary basic maintenance tasks.
  • ▸ Control hydraulic tractors equipped with tree clamps and booms to lift, swing, and bunch sheared trees.
  • ▸ Grade logs according to characteristics such as knot size and straightness, and according to established industry or company standards.
  • ▸ Drive and maneuver tractors and tree harvesters to shear the tops off of trees, cut and limb the trees, and cut the logs into desired lengths.
  • ▸ Drive straight or articulated tractors equipped with accessories such as bulldozer blades, grapples, logging arches, cable winches, and crane booms to skid, load, unload, or stack logs, pull stumps, or clear brush.
  • ▸ Drive crawler or wheeled tractors to drag or transport logs from felling sites to log landing areas for processing and loading.
  • ▸ Fill out required job or shift report forms.
  • ▸ Calculate total board feet, cordage, or other wood measurement units, using conversion tables.
  • ▸ Drive tractors for building or repairing logging and skid roads.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$35,170$43,970$49,740$61,050$74,300
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$16.91$21.14$23.91$29.35$35.72
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$35,170

25th Percentile

$43,970

Median

$49,740

75th Percentile

$61,050

90th Percentile

$74,300

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. Washington $75,140 2. Illinois $71,100 3. Texas $62,890 4. California $61,940 5. South Dakota $58,740

Lowest Paying States

32. Kentucky $30,230 33. West Virginia $36,130 34. Oklahoma $37,270 35. Missouri $41,770 36. Maine $44,780
View all 36 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Washington $75,140 +51% above national
2 Illinois $71,100 +43% above national
3 Texas $62,890 +26% above national
4 California $61,940 +25% above national
5 South Dakota $58,740 +18% above national
6 Oregon $58,720 +18% above national
7 Louisiana $58,600 +18% above national
8 Minnesota $58,590 +18% above national
9 Montana $56,530 +14% above national
10 Idaho $56,490 +14% above national
11 Vermont $52,910 +6% above national
12 New Hampshire $51,540 +4% above national
13 Ohio $50,590 +2% above national
14 Wyoming $49,650 same as national
15 Colorado $49,620 same as national
16 Mississippi $49,620 same as national
17 Florida $49,370 1% below national
18 Massachusetts $48,960 2% below national
19 North Carolina $48,420 3% below national
20 Arkansas $48,280 3% below national
21 Alabama $47,810 4% below national
22 South Carolina $47,650 4% below national
23 Michigan $47,610 4% below national
24 New York $47,540 4% below national
25 Maryland $47,530 4% below national
26 Pennsylvania $46,880 6% below national
27 Wisconsin $46,360 7% below national
28 Indiana $46,320 7% below national
29 Tennessee $46,310 7% below national
30 Virginia $46,090 7% below national
31 Georgia $45,080 9% below national
32 Maine $44,780 10% below national
33 Missouri $41,770 16% below national
34 Oklahoma $37,270 25% below national
35 West Virginia $36,130 27% below national
36 Kentucky $30,230 39% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. Bellingham, WA $77,310 2. Longview-Kelso, WA $76,980 3. Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $75,140 4. Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $74,790 5. Western Washington nonmetropolitan area $73,930

Lowest Paying Metros

116. Savannah, GA $35,030 117. Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $35,140 118. Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $35,140 119. North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $37,480 120. Dothan, AL $37,610
View all 120 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Bellingham, WA $77,310 +55% above national
2 Longview-Kelso, WA $76,980 +55% above national
3 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $75,140 +51% above national
4 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $74,790 +50% above national
5 Western Washington nonmetropolitan area $73,930 +49% above national
6 Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area $73,240 +47% above national
7 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $71,620 +44% above national
8 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $64,520 +30% above national
9 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $63,580 +28% above national
10 Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $63,170 +27% above national
11 Salem, OR $62,740 +26% above national
12 North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $61,870 +24% above national
13 Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $61,460 +24% above national
14 North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $61,360 +23% above national
15 Redding, CA $60,600 +22% above national
16 Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area $60,590 +22% above national
17 Alexandria, LA $60,410 +21% above national
18 Corvallis, OR $59,290 +19% above national
19 Duluth, MN-WI $59,130 +19% above national
20 Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $58,980 +19% above national
21 Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $58,810 +18% above national
22 Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area $58,540 +18% above national
23 Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area $58,520 +18% above national
24 Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $58,470 +18% above national
25 Medford, OR $58,270 +17% above national
26 Eugene-Springfield, OR $58,170 +17% above national
27 Albany, OR $57,700 +16% above national
28 Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area $57,220 +15% above national
29 Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area $56,630 +14% above national
30 West Montana nonmetropolitan area $55,570 +12% above national
31 Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $54,910 +10% above national
32 Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area $53,420 +7% above national
33 Coeur d'Alene, ID $51,690 +4% above national
34 Bend, OR $51,660 +4% above national
35 North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) $51,520 +4% above national
36 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $51,270 +3% above national
37 Hattiesburg, MS $51,260 +3% above national
38 Jacksonville, FL $50,450 +1% above national
39 Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $50,410 +1% above national
40 Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $50,380 +1% above national
41 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $50,370 +1% above national
42 Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $50,350 +1% above national
43 Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $50,090 +1% above national
44 Brunswick-St. Simons, GA $50,060 +1% above national
45 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $49,990 +1% above national
46 Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $49,980 same as national
47 West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $49,940 same as national
48 Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $49,930 same as national
49 Raleigh-Cary, NC $49,870 same as national
50 North Florida nonmetropolitan area $49,820 same as national
51 Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $49,690 same as national
52 Jackson, MS $49,580 same as national
53 Columbia, SC $49,350 1% below national
54 Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $49,270 1% below national
55 Boise City, ID $49,120 1% below national
56 Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area $49,110 1% below national
57 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $48,890 2% below national
58 Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area $48,790 2% below national
59 Florence, SC $48,770 2% below national
60 East Georgia nonmetropolitan area $48,720 2% below national
61 Birmingham, AL $48,600 2% below national
62 South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $48,470 3% below national
63 North Georgia nonmetropolitan area $48,320 3% below national
64 Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area $48,260 3% below national
65 West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $48,160 3% below national
66 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $47,990 4% below national
67 Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $47,940 4% below national
68 Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $47,860 4% below national
69 Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $47,680 4% below national
70 Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $47,520 4% below national
71 Eau Claire, WI $47,500 5% below national
72 Portland-South Portland, ME $47,470 5% below national
73 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $47,350 5% below national
74 Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $47,340 5% below national
75 Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area $47,230 5% below national
76 Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area $47,190 5% below national
77 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $47,170 5% below national
78 Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area $47,160 5% below national
79 Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area $47,100 5% below national
80 Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $47,080 5% below national
81 Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $46,970 6% below national
82 Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area $46,920 6% below national
83 Maryland nonmetropolitan area $46,920 6% below national
84 Columbus, GA-AL $46,760 6% below national
85 Montgomery, AL $46,690 6% below national
86 Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area $46,630 6% below national
87 South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $46,550 6% below national
88 Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area $46,520 6% below national
89 Tuscaloosa, AL $46,510 6% below national
90 Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $46,360 7% below national
91 Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $46,320 7% below national
92 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $46,260 7% below national
93 Greensboro-High Point, NC $46,060 7% below national
94 Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $45,960 8% below national
95 Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $45,850 8% below national
96 North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $45,820 8% below national
97 Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $45,740 8% below national
98 Richmond, VA $45,500 9% below national
99 Macon-Bibb County, GA $45,490 9% below national
100 Valdosta, GA $45,490 9% below national
101 Auburn-Opelika, AL $45,430 9% below national
102 Anniston-Oxford, AL $45,150 9% below national
103 Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area $44,780 10% below national
104 South Georgia nonmetropolitan area $44,210 11% below national
105 Bangor, ME $44,060 11% below national
106 Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $43,970 12% below national
107 Central East New York nonmetropolitan area $42,730 14% below national
108 Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area $42,110 15% below national
109 Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area $41,770 16% below national
110 Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area $41,470 17% below national
111 Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area $39,520 21% below national
112 East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $39,050 21% below national
113 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $39,020 22% below national
114 West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $38,440 23% below national
115 East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $38,420 23% below national
116 Dothan, AL $37,610 24% below national
117 North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $37,480 25% below national
118 Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $35,140 29% below national
119 Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $35,140 29% below national
120 Savannah, GA $35,030 30% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 45 (farming fishing and forestry) with comparable pay and career paths.

Agricultural Equipment Operators

SOC 45-2091

Agricultural Inspectors

SOC 45-2011

Agricultural Workers, All Other

SOC 45-2099

Animal Breeders

SOC 45-2021

Fallers

SOC 45-4021
Compare Logging Equipment Operators side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Logging Equipment Operators make? ▼
The median annual salary for Logging Equipment Operators is $49,740 ($23.91/hour). The salary range spans from $35,170 at the 10th percentile to $74,300 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Logging Equipment Operators the most? ▼
Washington pays the highest median salary for Logging Equipment Operators at $75,140/year, which is +51% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Logging Equipment Operators? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Logging Equipment Operators is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Logging Equipment Operators? ▼
Logging Equipment Operators has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 23.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 2.2 per 100 workers.
Is Logging Equipment Operators a good career? ▼
Employment for Logging Equipment Operators is projected to decline 1.4% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 4,200 openings are projected each year.
How does Logging Equipment Operators pay vary by state? ▼
Logging Equipment Operators salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Washington at $75,140/year, while Maine pays the least at $44,780/year. BLS data covers 36 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Logging Equipment Operators? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Logging Equipment Operators is Bellingham, WA at $77,310/year. BLS reports wage data for 120 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Logging Equipment Operators pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $61,050/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 $75,140/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.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

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.