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Logging workers harvest thousands of acres of forests each year. The timber they harvest provides the raw material for countless consumer and industrial products.
Logging workers typically do the following:
The cutting and logging of timber is done by a logging crew. The following are examples of types of logging workers:
Fallers cut down trees with hand-held power chain saws.
Buckers work alongside fallers, trimming the tops and branches of felled trees and bucking (cutting) the logs into specific lengths.
Tree climbers use special equipment to scale tall trees and remove their limbs. They carry heavy tools and safety gear as they climb the trees, and are kept safe by a harness attached to a rope.
Choke setters fasten steel cables or chains, known as chokers, around logs to be skidded (dragged) by tractors or forwarded by the cable-yarding system to the landing or deck area, where the logs are separated by species and type of product.
Rigging slingers and chasers set up and dismantle the cables and guy wires of the yarding system.
Log sorters, markers, movers, and chippers sort, mark, and move logs on the basis of their species, size, and ownership. They also tend machines that chip up logs.
Logging equipment operators use tree harvesters to fell trees, shear off tree limbs, and cut trees into desired lengths. They drive tractors and operate self-propelled machines called skidders or forwarders, which drag or otherwise transport logs to a loading area.
Log graders and scalers inspect logs for defects and measure the logs to determine their volume. They estimate the value of logs or pulpwood. These workers often use hand-held data collection devices into which they enter data about trees.
A logging crew might consist of the following members:
Logging workers hold about 55,300 jobs. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up logging workers is distributed as follows:
| Logging equipment operators | 39,100 |
| Fallers | 7,500 |
| Logging workers, all other | 4,500 |
| Log graders and scalers | 4,200 |
The largest employers of logging workers are as follows:
| Logging | 52% |
| Self-employed workers | 25 |
| Sawmills and wood preservation | 9 |
| Crop production | 3 |
| Support activities for agriculture and forestry | 2 |
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.
Despite the industry's strong emphasis on safety, logging workers have a high rate of fatal occupational injuries. Most fatalities occur through contact with a machine or an object, such as a log.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
Communication skills. Logging workers must communicate with other crew members so that they can cut and delimb trees efficiently and safely.
Decisionmaking 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 is $37,590. 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 $23,790, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $58,080.
Median annual wages for logging workers are as follows:
| Logging workers, all other | $38,950 |
| Logging equipment operators | 37,490 |
| Fallers | 37,370 |
| Log graders and scalers | 37,090 |
The median annual wages for logging workers in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Logging | $38,330 |
| Sawmills and wood preservation | 34,100 |
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 7 percent over the next ten years. Much of the employment decline for these workers stems from declining employment in the logging industry.
Mechanization of logging operations and improvements in logging equipment have increased productivity, resulting in less demand for logging workers, especially those who work by hand. Despite the projected employment declines, some fallers will continue to be needed to fell trees on slopes that cannot be accessed by large machinery. Additionally, the need to prevent destructive wildfires by thinning susceptible forests may result in some new jobs.
Despite projected employment declines, job opportunities should be good because of the need to replace workers who leave the occupation for retirement or for other jobs that are less physically demanding.
Employment of logging workers can be unsteady because changes in the level of construction, particularly residential construction, can cause short-term slowdowns in logging activities.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2016 | Projected Employment, 2026 | Change, 2016-26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Logging workers | 55,300 | 51,500 | -7 | -3,800 |
| Fallers | 7,500 | 6,700 | -11 | -800 |
| Logging equipment operators | 39,100 | 36,300 | -7 | -2,700 |
| Log graders and scalers | 4,200 | 4,300 | 3 | 100 |
| Logging workers, all other | 4,500 | 4,100 | -9 | -400 |