Log Graders and Scalers
Also called: Log Buyer, Log Grader, Log Scaler, ScalerGrade 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 4 of its 12 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 2.2% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 5.9% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Logging workers”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 87% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.4 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $44,950 | $39,830 to $48,260 | 100 |
| Arkansas | $42,340 | $39,390 to $42,980 | 190 |
| California | $56,670 | $49,030 to $58,770 | 320 |
| Florida | $39,040 | $38,480 to $50,720 | 70 |
| Georgia | $39,830 | $33,740 to $46,250 | 130 |
| Idaho | $57,620 | $55,730 to $59,670 | 140 |
| Indiana | $46,160 | $38,320 to $60,960 | 60 |
| Kentucky | $45,330 | $37,360 to $49,330 | 80 |
| Louisiana | $47,510 | $45,280 to $49,930 | 90 |
| Maine | $50,180 | $47,070 to $60,480 | 120 |
| Michigan | $51,810 | $48,360 to $60,610 | 50 |
| Mississippi | $48,010 | $36,100 to $51,430 | 130 |
| Missouri | $37,440 | $37,440 to $37,440 | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $46,530 | $46,240 to $52,830 | 30 |
| North Carolina | $36,850 | $34,600 to $50,390 | 200 |
| Ohio | $49,710 | $43,430 to $55,110 | 30 |
| Oregon | $60,250 | $57,500 to $62,970 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,550 | $38,100 to $52,620 | 330 |
| South Carolina | $44,370 | $36,600 to $47,150 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $35,920 | $30,970 to $45,020 | 110 |
| Texas | $36,100 | $36,090 to $39,980 | 40 |
| Virginia | $36,220 | $34,640 to $42,270 | 80 |
| Washington | $61,580 | $57,390 to $69,670 | 200 |
| West Virginia | $43,040 | $37,150 to $45,020 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $46,150 | $43,880 to $50,980 | 180 |
Nationally: $46,330. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 4 of its 12 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Evaluate log characteristics and determine grades, using established criteria. | Not published |
| AI + software | Record data about individual trees or load volumes into tally books or hand-held collection terminals. | Not published |
| Not much | Measure felled logs or loads of pulpwood to calculate volume, weight, dimensions, and marketable value, using measuring devices and conversion tables. | Not published |
| AI + software | Paint identification marks of specified colors on logs to identify grades or species, using spray cans, or call out grades to log markers. | Not published |
| Not much | Identify logs of substandard or special grade so that they can be returned to shippers, regraded, recut, or transferred for other processing. | Not published |
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
See all 12 tasks
| Not much | Measure log lengths and mark boles for bucking into logs, according to specifications. | Not published |
| AI + software | Communicate with coworkers by signals to direct log movement. | Not published |
| Not much | Drive to sawmills, wharfs, or skids to inspect logs or pulpwood. | Not published |
| Not much | Arrange for hauling of logs to appropriate mill sites. | Not published |
| Not much | Saw felled trees into lengths. | Not published |
| AI + software | Weigh log trucks before and after unloading, and record load weights and supplier identities. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 12 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 12 tasks fall under 8 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluate production inputs or outputs | |||
| Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment | |||
| Mark materials or objects for identification | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Communicate with others about operational plans or activities | |||
| Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures | |||
| Operate transportation equipment or vehicles | |||
| Cut trees or other vegetation |
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for log graders and scalers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved in from
of 187 moves in
- 1 Food Service Managers Moderate +5.8% 25%
- 2 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Moderate +2.5% 20%
- 3 Financial Managers Very high +9.7% 13%
- 9 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 2%
- 10 First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers High +5.4% 2%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 11% less than high school
- 64% high school
- 11% postsecondary certificate
- 12% some college
- 2% associate's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 28 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 22% less than high school
- 58% high school
- 13% some college
- 2% associate's
- 5% bachelor's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Logging workers” · 584 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Logging workers”
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeships: DOL's list of apprenticeable occupations doesn't include this one.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/45-4023.00