SOC 45-4021.00

    Fallers

    Use axes or chainsaws to fell trees using knowledge of tree characteristics and cutting techniques to control direction of fall and minimize tree damage.

    Median pay
    $52,100
    Growth
    -9.9%
    Decline
    Openings a year
    500
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $35,180
    Median
    $52,100
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $82,360
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    3,130 people work in this occupation.

    What fallers do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    Use axes or chainsaws to fell trees using knowledge of tree characteristics and cutting techniques to control direction of fall and minimize tree damage.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    100 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    25 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    2 / 100
    Social (S)
    15 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    10 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    39 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Performing General Physical Activities
    86
    Controlling Machines and Processes
    86
    Handling and Moving Objects
    79
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    76
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    69
    Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
    68
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    67
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    65
    Getting Information
    63
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    60
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Operation and Control
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Critical Thinking
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Monitoring
    • Time Management
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Equipment Maintenance
    • Repairing
    • Troubleshooting

    Knowledge

    • Mechanical
    • Production and Processing
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Mathematics
    • English Language
    • Telecommunications
    • Transportation
    • Education and Training
    • Law and Government
    • Physics

    Abilities

    • Reaction Time
    • Control Precision
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Static Strength
    • Speed of Limb Movement
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Far Vision
    • Near Vision

    Work styles

    • Cautiousness
    • Dependability
    • Self-Control
    • Perseverance
    • Attention to Detail
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Self-Confidence
    • Integrity
    • Adaptability
    • Achievement Orientation

    Also called

    All Round Logger · Arborist Climber · Axman · Bucker · Chain Saw Operator · Climbing Arborist · Cross Cut Sawyer · Cutter Operator · Feller · Hewer

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What fallers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.