How much does a logger make?
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 knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $36,380 and $69,350How 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
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $80,930 | about 30 |
| Washington | $67,650 | about 150 |
| Oregon | $57,890 | about 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
- 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