SOC 45-4023.00

    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.

    Median pay
    $46,330
    Growth
    -2.2%
    Decline
    Openings a year
    600
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

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    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $34,950
    Median
    $46,330
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $62,400
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    3,070 people work in this occupation.

    What log graders and scalers do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    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.

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

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    66 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    23 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    2 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    13 / 100
    Conventional (C) · strongest
    88 / 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 CRI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
    76
    Documenting/Recording Information
    75
    Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
    74
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    72
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    72
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    71
    Getting Information
    70
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    69
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    68
    Processing Information
    68
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Active Listening
    • Critical Thinking
    • Speaking
    • Active Learning
    • Coordination
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Monitoring
    • Writing
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Operations Monitoring

    Knowledge

    • Production and Processing
    • Mathematics
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Administration and Management
    • Mechanical
    • Education and Training
    • Transportation
    • English Language
    • Sales and Marketing
    • Computers and Electronics

    Abilities

    • Near Vision
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Category Flexibility
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Far Vision
    • Flexibility of Closure
    • Perceptual Speed

    Work styles

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

    Also called

    Check Scaler · Compounding Scaler · Deck Scaler · Deck Specialist · Decker · Deckman · Landing Scaler · Log Buyer · Log Check Scaler · Log Grader

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    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.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.