Who Earns What

How much does a logger make?

US Logging Workers, All Other
$50,840

a year · about $24 an hour

A typical logger in the United States makes $50,840 a year, about $24 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

What do they do?

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.

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

Is that a lot?

Compared with jobs you know
This job$50,840
Typical worker$50,980
Elementary teacher$63,970
Doctor$244,180
Cashier$32,880

If 100 people had this job

Most earn between $36,380 and $69,350
52 of 100
more than half

How do you become one?

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.

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.

Where does it pay most?

Highest in Louisiana ($80,930), lowest in Georgia ($34,870).

See every state
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.

Jobs like this

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Who earns more?
Data table and sources
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
Louisiana$80,930about 30
Washington$67,650about 150
Oregon$57,890about 590
Michigan$54,140—
North Carolina$48,460—

Official definition: All logging workers not listed separately.

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