Use axes or chainsaws to fell trees using knowledge of tree characteristics and cutting techniques to control direction of fall and minimize tree damage.
Fallers
SOC: 45-4021 O*NET: 45-4021.00
Median Salary
$53,900
per year
Job Growth
📉 -7.3%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
0.7
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or less
Job Zone 1
Use axes or chainsaws to fell trees using knowledge of tree characteristics and cutting techniques to control direction of fall and minimize tree damage.
What does a Fallers do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$35,620
10th percentile
Early Career
$43,670
25th percentile
Median
$53,900
50th percentile
Experienced
$65,040
75th percentile
Top Earners
$84,510
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$35,620
25th
$43,670
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$53,900
Mean: $59,120
75th
$65,040
90th
$84,510
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $48,890 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $43,670 and $65,040
- •Salary spread is 39.6% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 4,110 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:5,600
Top Industries
Logging63.7%
Forestry and Logging63.7%
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting63.7%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-7.3%
Annual Openings:700
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)5,600
Current
2034 (Projected)5,200
-7.3%
-400
Employment Change
-7.3%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Decline
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Fallers professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 23 locations
Michigan
490 jobs$52,0104.16x
Virginia
340 jobs$47,0703.12x
Georgia
320 jobs$38,9702.48x
Oregon
270 jobs$84,7705.14x
North Carolina
270 jobs$51,8602.07x
California
260 jobs$62,0200.54x
Mississippi
250 jobs$51,7907.97x
Washington
150 jobs$76,2201.61x
Tennessee
150 jobs$47,8501.74x
Arkansas
140 jobs$64,1704.10x
Pennsylvania
70 jobs$43,4700.44x
Indiana
50 jobs$61,1400.55x
South Carolina
50 jobs$60,0500.88x
Alabama
50 jobs$57,0900.92x
Montana
50 jobs$55,8903.48x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Operation and Control
100%
#2
Monitoring
86%
#3
Operations Monitoring
70%
#4
Critical Thinking
56%
#5
Judgment and Decision Making
40%
Skills Overview
Operation and Control
advanced5.0
100%
Monitoring
intermediate4.3
86%
Operations Monitoring
intermediate3.5
70%
Critical Thinking
basic2.8
56%
Judgment and Decision Making
basic2.0
40%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Operation and Control
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Operations Monitoring
intermediateImportance70%
skills
3.5/5.0
Critical Thinking
basicImportance56%
abilities
2.8/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
basicImportance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Pourers and Casters, Metal83%
5 shared skills
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas83%
5 shared skills
Dredge Operators67%
4 shared skills
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic67%
4 shared skills
Tire Builders67%
4 shared skills
Bridge and Lock Tenders63%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Monitoring
Learn on the Job:
- →Critical Thinking
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Operation and Control
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Operation and Control
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Fallers
Technology Intensity
High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires advanced digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Proficiency with specialized softwareTechnical documentationData analysis toolsSystem integration
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
18
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (10)Management & Supervision (5)Analysis & Evaluation (2)Documentation & Record-Keeping (1)
1
Stop saw engines, pull cutting bars from cuts, and run to safety as tree falls.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Appraise trees for certain characteristics, such as twist, rot, and heavy limb growth, and gauge amount and direction of lean, to determine how to control the direction of a tree's fall with the least damage.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Management & Supervision97% perform98%
3
Saw back-cuts, leaving sufficient sound wood to control direction of fall.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Management & Supervision94% perform96%
4
Clear brush from work areas and escape routes, and cut saplings and other trees from direction of falls, using axes, chainsaws, or bulldozers.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Management & Supervision91% perform94%
5
Measure felled trees and cut them into specified log lengths, using chain saws and axes.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Assess logs after cutting to ensure that the quality and length are correct.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Analysis & Evaluation85% perform90%
7
Determine position, direction, and depth of cuts to be made, and placement of wedges or jacks.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Management & Supervision82% perform88%
8
Control the direction of a tree's fall by scoring cutting lines with axes, sawing undercuts along scored lines with chainsaws, knocking slabs from cuts with single-bit axes, and driving wedges.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Management & Supervision79% perform86%
9
Trim off the tops and limbs of trees, using chainsaws, delimbers, or axes.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Select trees to be cut down, assessing factors such as site, terrain, and weather conditions before beginning work.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Analysis & Evaluation73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •39% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Fallers
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Fallers professionals typically have a RCI Holland code and highly value support
RRealistic
CConventional
IInvestigative
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Fallers
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.10
Attention to Detail
ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level3.95
Adaptability/Flexibility
ImportantAdaptability/Flexibility
Importance Level3.93
Integrity
ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level3.79
Self-Control
ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level3.78
Cooperation
ImportantCooperation
Importance Level3.67
Complete Work Styles Profile
Dependability
4.1
Attention to Detail
4.0
Adaptability/Flexibility
3.9
Integrity
3.8
Self-Control
3.8
Cooperation
3.7
Concern for Others
3.7
Independence
3.6
Stress Tolerance
3.5
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or less
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 1
Little or No Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or less
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed.
Training:
Short demonstration or on-the-job training
💼 Experience Requirement
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • On-the-job training is typical
- • Tasks can be learned within a few days or weeks
- • Basic skills development
1
Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed.
On-the-job training is typicalTasks can be learned within a few days or weeksBasic skills development
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