Logging Equipment Operator salary in the U.S.
Logging Equipment Operators in the U.S. earn a median of $49,740 a year ($23.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 21,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,300 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $53,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for logging equipment operators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| 25th percentile | $43,970 | $21.14 |
| Median | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| 75th percentile | $61,050 | $29.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,300 | $35.72 |
| Average (mean) | $53,190 | $25.57 |
Half of logging equipment operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,145 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,072.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,913.08 |
| Weekly | $956.54 |
| Hourly | $23.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Logging Equipment Operator salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $75,140 | 1,150 |
| Illinois | $71,100 | 40 |
| Texas | $62,890 | 500 |
| California | $61,940 | 950 |
| South Dakota | $58,740 | 50 |
| Oregon | $58,720 | 1,860 |
| Louisiana | $58,600 | 770 |
| Minnesota | $58,590 | 320 |
| Montana | $56,530 | 190 |
| Idaho | $56,490 | 560 |
| Vermont | $52,910 | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $51,540 | 170 |
| Ohio | $50,590 | 260 |
| Wyoming | $49,650 | 40 |
| Colorado | $49,620 | 70 |
| Mississippi | $49,620 | 1,220 |
| Florida | $49,370 | 770 |
| Massachusetts | $48,960 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $48,420 | 990 |
| Arkansas | $48,280 | 1,280 |
| Alabama | $47,810 | 1,860 |
| South Carolina | $47,650 | 920 |
| Michigan | $47,610 | 860 |
| New York | $47,540 | 290 |
| Maryland | $47,530 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,880 | 360 |
| Wisconsin | $46,360 | 480 |
| Indiana | $46,320 | 150 |
| Tennessee | $46,310 | 400 |
| Virginia | $46,090 | 570 |
| Georgia | $45,080 | 1,620 |
| Maine | $44,780 | 830 |
| Missouri | $41,770 | 140 |
| Oklahoma | $37,270 | 130 |
| West Virginia | $36,130 | 310 |
| Kentucky | $30,230 | 300 |
Best-paying metro areas for logging equipment operators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | $77,310 | 50 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $76,980 | 180 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $75,140 | 110 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $74,790 | 110 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $71,620 | 30 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $64,520 | 290 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $63,580 | 70 |
| Salem, OR | $62,740 | 100 |
| Redding, CA | $60,600 | 90 |
| Alexandria, LA | $60,410 | 60 |
| Corvallis, OR | $59,290 | 50 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $59,130 | 40 |
| Medford, OR | $58,270 | 130 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $58,170 | 250 |
| Albany, OR | $57,700 | 130 |
Metro areas with the most logging equipment operators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 300 | $39,020 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 290 | $64,520 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 250 | $58,170 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 180 | $76,980 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 160 | $46,510 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 150 | $50,370 |
| Albany, OR | 130 | $57,700 |
| Bangor, ME | 130 | $44,060 |
| Medford, OR | 130 | $58,270 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 120 | $46,260 |
| Birmingham, AL | 110 | $48,600 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 110 | $74,790 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 110 | $75,140 |
| Bend, OR | 100 | $51,660 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 100 | $50,450 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Forest and Conservation Workers | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Faller | $52,100 | $25.05 |
| Log Graders and Scalers | $46,330 | $22.27 |
| Logging Workers, All Other | $50,840 | $24.44 |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,660 | $17.15 |
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Agricultural Equipment Operator | $41,730 | $20.06 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $59,320 | $28.52 |
| Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products | $35,730 | $17.18 |
| Agricultural Inspector | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Agricultural Workers, All Other | $39,850 | $19.16 |
| Animal Breeder | $51,130 | $24.58 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 45-4022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a logging equipment operator make in the U.S.?
The median salary for logging equipment operators in the U.S. is $49,740 a year, or $23.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid logging equipment operators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of logging equipment operators in the U.S. earn at least $74,300 a year. The top 25% earn $61,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for logging equipment operators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,170 a year, and a quarter of logging equipment operators earn $43,970 or less.
How many logging equipment operators work in the U.S.?
About 21,060 logging equipment operators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.