Loggers collect and obtain timber in the open air and among the natural elements. Timber is a raw material in producing a wide range of consumer goods.
On a yearly basis, loggers extract timber from forests and harvest raw materials from thousands of acres of land.
In order to collect the raw material, logging experts harvest timber as part of a crew and operate as a team.
Each logger is responsible for their own set of duties and specializes in a particular aspect of the wood cutting process.
This is a necessity in order to harvest timber as efficiently and safely as feasible.
Being a logger is a dangerous job and requires a lot, and with all this, the question of how much do loggers make and which state pays them the most arises which is a good question since it is a dangerous job.
According to Zippia, San Mateo, CA, pays 16.0% more salary to Loggers than the national average.
To find out Loggers’ hourly and yearly salary, their maximum pay, and more, keep reading.
Summary
| Guide | How Much Do Loggers Make? |
|---|---|
| Average Income | $41,230 per year |
| Highest Income | $60,000-$65,000 per year |
| Qualification | High school diploma or its equivalent |
| Training | Needed |
Who Are Loggers?
Loggers labor in woods, harvesting trees that are physically hard and dangerous.
Despite the fact that they may employ heavy machines and powered tools to make specific jobs easier, most of their labor includes lifting and climbing, which requires physical stamina and strength.
Rough terrain, fallen branches, and tangled vines are all dangers that loggers must be mindful of.
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How Much Do Loggers Make?
Loggers’ pay is all about the work they specialize in. Tree fellers use Mobile falling machines and powered chainsaws by tree fellers to chop down trees.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they earned a median of $21.46 per hour or $44,650 per year in May 2019.
Because the median pay is the midpoint, half of the people who lost their jobs earned more than this.
Fallers are one of the most well-paid logging vocations. Log graders are on the other end of the pay spectrum.
Graders look for flaws in logs, measure their volume, and assess their quality and worth. In May 2019, their Salary was $17.92 per hour or $37,280 per year.
According to the BLS, workers in the logging business made an average of $19.82 per hour or $41,230 per year, including fallers, graders, and logging equipment operators who drive tree harvesters and other vehicles to carry logs.
1. How Much Do Loggers Make an Hour?
Loggers make a minimum of $9.13 an hour and a maximum of $35.58 an hour.
2. How Much Do Loggers Make A Month?
Loggers make a minimum of $1,583 a month and a maximum of $6,167 a month.
3. How Much Do Loggers Make A Year?
Loggers make a minimum of $19,000 a year and a maximum of $74,000 a year.
Highest Salary Of Loggers In 2023
Even though loggers have a lot of diversity in the work area and their salaries depend heavily on what they are focused on, there is still the highest Salary that a logger gets on the records.
The average is $42,000 a year, but if you are experienced enough and could work in a good way and provide a lot, your wage could go as high as somewhere between $60,000-$65,000 annually.
Nevertheless, you should know that you could earn much more than this when you work as a freelancer.
This is a piece of salary information that is on the records of governmental institutions or websites like Indeed or Glassdoor.
Is Being A Logger Good Or Bad?
Logging is seen frequently as one of America’s most hazardous jobs in the records.
The yearly fatal injury rate for forestry employees is roughly 100 per 100,000 workers on average, with some years being much higher.
This is around 20 to 30 times the national average. Considering this downside, being a logger might not be good if you do not like the risk and the job itself.
Their pay is close to the country’s national average in general, so being a logger is about liking it and having the necessary skill set to do so.
However, the risks are higher than the advantages, so it is essential to know if you actually like it or not.
Pros and Cons of Being a Logger
Pros
- You can start your own business
- You get to travel
- No advanced training required
Cons
- Low pay
- Physically demanding
- Dangerous
How Many Hours Does Logger Work?
Loggers ideally wake up early in the morning and go to work. Their work requires them to commute to different places.
Ideally, they work for 36-40 hours a week. Also, logging may not be required all need around, as it is demanded more during the season.
What is the Starting Pay of Logger?
The starting pay of loggers is $9.13 an hour or $19,000 a year. With more experience, you can make as much as $74,000 a year.
And you can make even more than this if you have the investment to start your own logging business.
How To Become A Logger?
Here’s how you can become a logger:
- To work as a logger, most firms need candidates to have high school graduation at the very least.
- The next step is to get physically fit because loggers are supposed of physical activities.
- The next step is to join a vocational school where you can get trained to become a logger.
- The logging business is dangerous, and so everyone interested in becoming a logger must complete safety training.
- After this, you can apply for an apprenticeship or on-the-job training, which will teach you all of the essential skills to become a logger.
- Now you can start applying to work as a logger in and around your local area.
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Logger Training Programs
The majority of loggers have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Many state programs combine classroom teachings with field training on topics like reforestation and management techniques, so they may get the training they need.
Fallers, in particular, require more expertise than other logging occupations; therefore, safety training is essential.
Training programs for loggers who drive heavy vehicles and equipment are also available from logging firms and trade organizations.
One or more field sessions with equipment vendor personnel who demonstrate the usage of machines could be in these programs.
Third-party specialty certification, such as the Master Logger Certification, can improve skills and expand work options.
What Is It Like To Be A Logger?
Conclusion
To conclude, being a logger is dangerous; it is one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States, and it requires a lot to be with, special classes and training for safety and for the benefit of the job, and so on.
However, it pays well if you are experienced enough but if you think no amount of money is enough for you to work in one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, then being a logger is not the best choice for many, including you.
FAQ
How much do loggers make when they are freelancers?
There is not much of a limit there because you might own your own company, you might have your own people, you might set your own rates, and so on.
How much do loggers make if there are no jobs to do at a company?
There are always jobs to do, but if your company fails to get one, you will still get paid as long as you are employed there.
How much do loggers make if they get injured?
You need to have a special part for that in your contract as being a logger is one of the most dangerous jobs in America.
You should be able to get paid even if you got injured during working.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
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