Logging Equipment Operators: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Stan T.Career, Overview

Logging Equipment Operators

Logging Equipment Operators drive logging tractor or wheeled vehicle equipped with one or more accessories, such as bulldozer blade, frontal shear, grapple, logging arch, cable winches, hoisting rack, or crane boom, to fell tree; to skid, load, unload, or stack logs; or to pull stumps or clear brush. Includes operating stand-alone logging machines, such as log chippers.

Salary
$43570
Becoming One
Very Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth
Low

Personality
Interest Match



Job description

Logging Equipment Operators drive logging tractor or wheeled vehicle equipped with one or more accessories such as bulldozer blade, frontal shear, grapple, logging arch, cable winches, hoisting rack, or crane boom, to fell tree; to skid, load, unload, or stack logs; or to pull stumps or clear brush.

  • Inspect equipment for safety prior to use, and perform necessary basic maintenance tasks.
  • Control hydraulic tractors equipped with tree clamps and booms to lift, swing, and bunch sheared trees.
  • Grade logs according to characteristics such as knot size and straightness, and according to established industry or company standards.
  • Drive and maneuver tractors and tree harvesters to shear the tops off of trees, cut and limb the trees, and cut the logs into desired lengths.
Read more about what does a Logging Equipment Operator really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$41840 per year

Average hourly wage
$20 per hour


Logging Equipment Operators with little to no experience tend to make between $25750 and $32260 while the more experienced ones can earn over $49980 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
ID $27 $55,520
CA $25 $51,520
WA $25 $51,060
AZ $23 $47,230
OR $23 $46,910

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Logging Equipment Operator is to move to a higher paying state like ID. Right now, the highest paying states for Logging Equipment Operators are ID, CA, WA, AZ and OR.

However, a higher pay at ID doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at ID might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Logging Equipment Operator is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
No degree required

We asked other Logging Equipment Operators what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had less than a High School Diploma followed by a High School Diploma.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation
Read more about how to become a Logging Equipment Operator and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Logging Equipment Operator.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes practical and hands-on work
Suitable for people who wants to work in a supportive work environment
This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.
It is very easy to get into this career. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to help and teach others
One of the lowest paying jobs
Demand for this career is growing very slowly
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week)

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
62%

Is this job meaningful
57%


62% of Logging Equipment Operators said they were satisfied with their job and 57% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Builders and The Thinkers

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.



Learn more about Logging Equipment Operators

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Job Description
Salary
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