$Who Earns What

How much does a logger make?

US Logging Workers, All Other

Answer: A typical logger in the United States makes $50,840 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Yearly pay of a typical person doing this job in the US
$50,840

Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 2,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).

Lower earner
$36,380
10th from the bottom of 100
Typical person
$50,840
Right in the middle (median)
Higher earner
$69,350
10th from the top of 100

If 100 people had this job

Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-right

Hover over a person to see their yearly pay

52 of 100
more than half

Logger pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)

Logger pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$36,380$50,840$69,350about 2,000
States where loggers earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
Oregon$57,890about 590

Why does pay differ?

In the United States, loggers with more experience or valued skills and certifications may earn more. Pay can also differ by employer, location, hours worked, and the tasks or responsibilities involved.

What if you lived in a different state?

Pay varies a lot by state in the US
Whole US$50,840
Louisiana$80,930
Washington$67,650
Oregon$57,890
Michigan$54,140
North Carolina$48,460
West Virginia$41,790
Mississippi$37,370
Georgia$34,870

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

What does a logger do?

All logging workers not listed separately.

What's a typical day like?

A logger checks equipment, then cuts or guides trees down with a chainsaw or large machine. The crew trims, sorts, and moves logs to a loading area for trucks.

How to get this job

In the US, a high school diploma is typical, though some jobs need no formal credential. New loggers learn safety and machinery on the job, sometimes for up to a year; some states require licenses or certifications for certain workers.

Did you know?

Before cutting, a faller studies where a tree should land and chooses the position, size, and depth of the cuts.

Earn more in the same field

Farming, Fishing, and Forestry jobs that pay a bit more

Sources and data

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine

Pages used for the text

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY