Log Graders and Scalers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for log graders and scalerss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Washington$65,370
- Oregon$59,030
- Idaho$57,290
- Michigan$54,300
- Maine$53,770
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $65,370 | $61,580 | $31 | +36.8% | 200 |
| 2 | Oregon | $59,030 | $60,250 | $28 | +23.6% | 50 |
| 3 | Idaho | $57,290 | $57,620 | $28 | +19.9% | 140 |
| 4 | Michigan | $54,300 | $51,810 | $26 | +13.7% | 50 |
| 5 | Maine | $53,770 | $50,180 | $26 | +12.6% | 120 |
| 6 | California | $53,540 | $56,670 | $26 | +12.1% | 320 |
| 7 | Ohio | $52,170 | $49,710 | $25 | +9.2% | 30 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $50,910 | $46,530 | $24 | +6.6% | 30 |
| 9 | Indiana | $49,820 | $46,160 | $24 | +4.3% | 60 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $47,890 | $46,150 | $23 | +0.3% | 180 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $46,400 | $44,550 | $22 | -2.9% | 330 |
| 12 | Alabama | $45,850 | $44,950 | $22 | -4% | 100 |
| 13 | Mississippi | $44,940 | $48,010 | $22 | -5.9% | 130 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $44,380 | $45,330 | $21 | -7.1% | 80 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $44,360 | $47,510 | $21 | -7.1% | 90 |
| 16 | Florida | $43,150 | $39,040 | $21 | -9.7% | 70 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $43,050 | $44,370 | $21 | -9.9% | 40 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $42,920 | $43,040 | $21 | -10.2% | 90 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $42,910 | $36,850 | $21 | -10.2% | 200 |
| 20 | Arkansas | $41,630 | $42,340 | $20 | -12.9% | 190 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $39,710 | $35,920 | $19 | -16.9% | 110 |
| 22 | Virginia | $38,590 | $36,220 | $19 | -19.2% | 80 |
| 23 | Georgia | $38,190 | $39,830 | $18 | -20.1% | 130 |
| 24 | Texas | $38,140 | $36,100 | $18 | -20.2% | 40 |
| 25 | Missouri | $37,420 | $37,440 | $18 | -21.7% | 60 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 19 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $68,170 | $68,380 | 70 |
| 2 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $61,030 | $63,420 | 30 |
| 3 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $57,410 | $54,050 | 70 |
| 4 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $57,390 | $57,470 | 90 |
| 5 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $51,700 | $54,710 | 60 |
| 6 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $49,310 | $45,240 | 40 |
| 7 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $48,010 | $44,550 | 40 |
| 8 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $47,510 | $46,880 | 40 |
| 9 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $46,150 | $47,080 | 50 |
| 10 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $45,500 | $46,030 | 90 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing log graders and scalerss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forestry and Logging | $63,820 | $61,790 | 120 |
| 2 | Logging | $63,820 | $61,790 | 120 |
| 3 | Sector 11 - Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | $63,820 | $61,790 | 120 |
| 4 | Administrative and Support Services | $60,830 | $56,240 | 130 |
| 5 | Sector 56 - Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $60,830 | $56,240 | 130 |
| 6 | Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $49,440 | $54,820 | 150 |
| 7 | Sector 42 - Wholesale Trade | $49,440 | $54,820 | 150 |
| 8 | Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $49,440 | $54,820 | 150 |
| 9 | Employment Services | $48,500 | $48,120 | — |
| 10 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | $47,250 | $47,300 | 1,730 |
| 11 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $46,470 | $47,830 | 3,050 |
| 12 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $46,330 | $47,770 | 3,070 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do log graders and scalers make in the U.S.?
The median log graders and scalers salary in the United States is $46,330 per year (mean $47,770), and about 80% earn between $34,950 and $62,400.
How much do log graders and scalers make per hour?
Roughly $23 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $47,770 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays log graders and scalers the most?
Washington has the highest average pay for log graders and scalers at $65,370 per year (median $61,580).
What is the job outlook for log graders and scalers?
Employment is projected to change -0.7% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 600 openings per year.