Careers / Log Graders and Scalers
Log Graders and Scalers — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$46,330
United States, 2025
Employment
3,070
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 2
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 45-4023.00
- Job zone
- 2
- Experience required
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Typical tasks
- Evaluate log characteristics and determine grades, using established criteria.
- Record data about individual trees or load volumes into tally books or hand-held collection terminals.
- Measure felled logs or loads of pulpwood to calculate volume, weight, dimensions, and marketable value, using measuring devices and conversion tables.
- Paint identification marks of specified colors on logs to identify grades or species, using spray cans, or call out grades to log markers.
- Jab logs with metal ends of scale sticks, and inspect logs to ascertain characteristics or defects such as water damage, splits, knots, broken ends, rotten areas, twists, and curves.
- Identify logs of substandard or special grade so that they can be returned to shippers, regraded, recut, or transferred for other processing.
- Arrange for hauling of logs to appropriate mill sites.
- Weigh log trucks before and after unloading, and record load weights and supplier identities.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$34,950
25th percentile
$37,780
75th percentile
$56,250
90th percentile
$62,400
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking3.3
- Active Listening3.3
- Speaking3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Active Learning3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Writing3.0
- Operations Monitoring2.9
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Time Management2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 8 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
8
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.3 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Writing | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.1 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 | 2.8 | Not selected | 2.8 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Log Graders and ScalersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| WA | $61,580 | 200 | 2025 |
| Longview, WA | $61,030 | 30 | 2025 |
| OR | $60,250 | 50 | 2025 |
| ID | $57,620 | 140 | 2025 |
| CA | $56,670 | 320 | 2025 |
| MI | $51,810 | 50 | 2025 |
| ME | $50,180 | 120 | 2025 |
| OH | $49,710 | 30 | 2025 |
| MS | $48,010 | 130 | 2025 |
| LA | $47,510 | 90 | 2025 |
| NH | $46,530 | 30 | 2025 |
| IN | $46,160 | 60 | 2025 |
| WI | $46,150 | 180 | 2025 |
| KY | $45,330 | 80 | 2025 |
| AL | $44,950 | 100 | 2025 |
| PA | $44,550 | 330 | 2025 |
| SC | $44,370 | 40 | 2025 |
| WV | $43,040 | 90 | 2025 |
| AR | $42,340 | 190 | 2025 |
| GA | $39,830 | 130 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Log Graders and Scalers to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.