Log Graders and Scalers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for log graders and scalers in the U.S. is $46,330 ($22.27 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $46,330
- Mean annual wage
- $47,770
- Median hourly wage
- $22.27
- Employment
- 3,070
3,070 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,950 | $16.80 |
| 25th percentile | $37,780 | $18.16 |
| Median (50th) | $46,330 | $22.27 |
| 75th percentile | $56,250 | $27.04 |
| 90th percentile | $62,400 | $30.00 |
Highest-paying states for log graders and scalers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $61,580 | 200 |
| Oregon | $60,250 | 50 |
| Idaho | $57,620 | 140 |
| California | $56,670 | 320 |
| Michigan | $51,810 | 50 |
| Maine | $50,180 | 120 |
| Ohio | $49,710 | 30 |
| Mississippi | $48,010 | 130 |
| Louisiana | $47,510 | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $46,530 | 30 |
Lowest-paying states
- Tennessee: $35,920 median annual wage
- Texas: $36,100 median annual wage
- Virginia: $36,220 median annual wage
- North Carolina: $36,850 median annual wage
- Missouri: $37,440 median annual wage
About this occupation
Grade logs or estimate the marketable content or value of logs or pulpwood in sorting yards, millpond, log deck, or similar locations. Inspect logs for defects or measure logs to determine volume.
Typical tasks
- Evaluate log characteristics and determine grades, using established criteria.
- Arrange for hauling of logs to appropriate mill sites.
- Identify logs of substandard or special grade so that they can be returned to shippers, regraded, recut, or transferred for other processing.
- Measure log lengths and mark boles for bucking into logs, according to specifications.
- Drive to sawmills, wharfs, or skids to inspect logs or pulpwood.
- Record data about individual trees or load volumes into tally books or hand-held collection terminals.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 27.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 50.8% |
| Some college, no degree | 12.6% |
| Associate's degree | 4.0% |
| Bachelor's degree | 4.5% |
| Master's degree | 0.6% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.2% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660
- Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$36,670
- Agricultural Equipment Operators$41,730
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$59,320
- Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products$35,730
- Logging Equipment Operators$49,740
- Agricultural Inspectors$49,940
- Forest and Conservation Workers$43,680
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.