Logging workers held about 48,500 jobs in 2021. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up logging workers was distributed as follows:
| Logging equipment operators | 34,300 |
| Fallers | 5,600 |
| Log graders and scalers | 4,500 |
| Logging workers, all other | 4,200 |
The largest employers of logging workers were as follows:
| Self-employed workers | 24% |
| Sawmills and wood preservation | 12 |
| Crop production | 2 |
| Support activities for agriculture and forestry | 0 |
Logging is physically demanding and can be dangerous. Workers spend all their time outdoors, sometimes in poor weather and often in isolated areas. The increased use of enclosed machines has decreased some of the discomforts caused by bad weather and has generally made logging much safer.
Most logging work involves lifting, climbing, and other strenuous activities, although machinery has eliminated some heavy labor. Falling branches, vines, and rough terrain are constant hazards, as are dangers associated with felling trees and handling logs.
Chain saws and other power equipment can be dangerous; therefore, workers must be careful and must use proper safety measures and equipment, such as hardhats, safety clothing, hearing protection devices, and boots.
Injuries and Illnesses
Despite the industry’s strong emphasis on safety, logging workers sometimes get injured on the job. And although fatalities are uncommon, fallers experience one of the highest rates of occupational fatalities of all occupations. Most fatalities occur through contact with a machine or an object, such as a log.
Work Schedules
Workers sometimes commute long distances between their homes and logging sites. In more densely populated states, commuting distances are shorter. Logging work is often seasonal, and workers can find more employment opportunities during the warmer months because snow and cold weather adversely affect working conditions.
Most logging workers have a high school diploma. They get on-the-job training to become familiar with forest environments and to learn how to operate logging machinery.
Education
A high school diploma is enough for most logging worker jobs. Some vocational or technical schools and community colleges offer associate’s degrees or certificates in forest technology. This additional education may help workers get a job. Programs may include field trips to observe or participate in logging activities.
A few community colleges offer education programs for logging equipment operators.
Training
Many states have training programs for loggers. Although specific coursework may vary by state, programs usually include technical instruction or field training in a number of areas, including best management practices, environmental compliance, and reforestation.
Safety training is a vital part of logging workers’ instruction. Many state forestry or logging associations provide training sessions for logging equipment operators, whose jobs require more technical skill than other logging positions. Sessions take place in the field, where trainees have the opportunity to practice various logging techniques and use particular equipment.
Logging companies and trade associations offer training programs for workers who operate large, expensive machinery and equipment. These programs often culminate in a state-recognized safety certification from the logging company.
Logging workers typically have an interest in the Building, Thinking and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.
If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Thinking or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a logging worker, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Logging workers should also possess the following specific qualities:
Communication skills. Logging workers must communicate within a crew so they can cut and delimb trees efficiently and safely.
Decision-making skills. Logging workers must make quick, intelligent decisions when hazards arise.
Detail oriented. Logging workers must watch gauges, dials, and other indicators to determine whether their equipment and tools are working properly.
Physical stamina. Logging workers need to be able to perform laborious tasks repeatedly.
Physical strength. Logging workers must be able to handle heavy equipment.
The median annual wage for logging workers was $46,330 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,810, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $61,560.
Median annual wages for logging workers in May 2021 were as follows:
| Fallers | $47,700 |
| Logging equipment operators | 46,400 |
| Logging workers, all other | 46,090 |
| Log graders and scalers | 37,820 |
In May 2021, the median annual wages for logging workers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Sawmills and wood preservation | $37,170 |
Workers sometimes commute long distances between their homes and logging sites. In more densely populated states, commuting distances are shorter. Logging work is often seasonal, and workers can find more employment opportunities during the warmer months because snow and cold weather adversely affect working conditions.
Overall employment of logging workers is projected to decline 4 percent from 2021 to 2031.
Despite declining employment, about 7,200 openings for logging workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Projected employment of logging workers varies by occupation (see table). The mechanization of logging operations and improvements in logging equipment have increased productivity, which is expected to reduce demand for logging workers, especially those who work by hand. However, the need to prevent destructive wildfires by thinning susceptible forests is expected to support some demand for logging workers.