Farming, fishing and forestry
Log graders and scalers
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.
Median pay
$46,330
Growth to 2035
−2%
declining
Openings a year
600
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Log graders and scalers
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Log graders and scalers: 69% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: Log Buyer · Log Check Scaler · Log Grader · Log Scaler · Lumber Grader · Scaler · Timber Buyer
Outlook and AI
Log graders and scalers held 4,400 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 4,300 by 2035 (−2%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
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- Log graders and scalers vs. Machine feeders and offbearers
- Log graders and scalers vs. Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing
- Log graders and scalers vs. Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
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