How much does a logger make?
Answer: A typical logger in the United States makes $50,840 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
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).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Logger pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $36,380 | $50,840 | $69,350 | about 2,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $57,890 | about 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 USTop 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 moreSources 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
- www.bls.gov/ooh/farming-fishing-and-forestry/logging-workers.htm
- www.bls.gov/ooh/farming-fishing-and-forestry/print/logging-workers.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY