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.
Logging Equipment Operators
SOC: 45-4022 O*NET: 45-4022.00
Median Salary
$49,210
per year
Job Growth
📉 -1.4%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
4.2
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or less
Job Zone 1
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.
What does a Logging Equipment Operators do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$35,050
10th percentile
Early Career
$43,750
25th percentile
Median
$49,210
50th percentile
Experienced
$60,640
75th percentile
Top Earners
$72,280
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$35,050
25th
$43,750
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$49,210
Mean: $52,020
75th
$60,640
90th
$72,280
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $37,230 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $43,750 and $60,640
- •Salary spread is 34.3% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 22,520 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:30,900
Top Industries
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting76.8%
Forestry and Logging76.8%
Logging76.8%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-1.4%
Annual Openings:4,200
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)30,900
Current
2034 (Projected)30,500
-1.4%
-400
Employment Change
-1.4%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: More slowly than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Logging Equipment Operators professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 37 locations
Alabama
1,950 jobs$48,9906.38x
Georgia
1,810 jobs$46,9702.55x
Oregon
1,750 jobs$58,9406.10x
North Carolina
1,190 jobs$45,5801.67x
Washington
1,150 jobs$74,4002.23x
Florida
1,060 jobs$48,4500.74x
Mississippi
1,060 jobs$47,9106.23x
South Carolina
980 jobs$46,2702.95x
Arkansas
970 jobs$46,5805.14x
California
940 jobs$62,0000.36x
Maine
920 jobs$45,4809.94x
Louisiana
910 jobs$56,7803.26x
Michigan
790 jobs$46,9701.23x
Virginia
760 jobs$46,1701.29x
Texas
670 jobs$60,2200.33x
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
Operations Monitoring
90%
#3
Equipment Maintenance
80%
#4
Active Listening
70%
#5
Troubleshooting
60%
#6
Monitoring
50%
#7
Quality Control Analysis
40%
Skills Overview
Operation and Control
advanced5.0
100%
Operations Monitoring
advanced4.5
90%
Equipment Maintenance
intermediate4.0
80%
Active Listening
intermediate3.5
70%
Troubleshooting
intermediate3.0
60%
Monitoring
basic2.5
50%
Quality Control Analysis
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
Operations Monitoring
advancedImportance90%
skills
4.5/5.0
Equipment Maintenance
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance70%
skills
3.5/5.0
Troubleshooting
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Monitoring
basicImportance50%
skills
2.5/5.0
Quality Control Analysis
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Agricultural Equipment Operators75%
5 shared skills
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic75%
5 shared skills
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators75%
5 shared skills
Pile Driver Operators75%
5 shared skills
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators70%
5 shared skills
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers70%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Learn on the Job:
- →Troubleshooting
- →Monitoring
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Operations Monitoring
- ✓Equipment Maintenance
- ✓Operation and Control
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Equipment Maintenance
- ★Operation and Control
- ★Active Listening
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 Logging Equipment Operators
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechSAP software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Outlook
SAP software
Microsoft Office software
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
HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
MOSTLY 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 high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
9
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
Operations & Execution (1)General Responsibilities (8)
1
Inspect equipment for safety prior to use, and perform necessary basic maintenance tasks.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution100% perform100%
2
Drive straight or articulated tractors equipped with accessories such as bulldozer blades, grapples, logging arches, cable winches, and crane booms to skid, load, unload, or stack logs, pull stumps, or clear brush.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Drive crawler or wheeled tractors to drag or transport logs from felling sites to log landing areas for processing and loading.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Drive tractors for building or repairing logging and skid roads.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Grade logs according to characteristics such as knot size and straightness, and according to established industry or company standards.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Control hydraulic tractors equipped with tree clamps and booms to lift, swing, and bunch sheared trees.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
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.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Fill out required job or shift report forms.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Calculate total board feet, cordage, or other wood measurement units, using conversion tables.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on operations & execution activities
- •78% 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 Logging Equipment Operators
💡 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?
Logging Equipment Operators 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 Logging Equipment Operators
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.45
Initiative
Very ImportantInitiative
Importance Level4.04
Self-Control
ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level3.95
Adaptability/Flexibility
ImportantAdaptability/Flexibility
Importance Level3.89
Cooperation
ImportantCooperation
Importance Level3.85
Independence
ImportantIndependence
Importance Level3.84
Complete Work Styles Profile
Dependability
4.5
Initiative
4.0
Self-Control
4.0
Adaptability/Flexibility
3.9
Cooperation
3.9
Independence
3.8
Stress Tolerance
3.8
Attention to Detail
3.8
Integrity
3.7
Achievement/Effort
3.6
💡 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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