Log Graders and Scalers
Grade 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.
Most important skills
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Coordination
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key knowledge
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Mechanical
- Education and Training
- Transportation
- English Language
What the work involves
- Evaluate log characteristics and determine grades, using established criteria.
- Record data about individual trees or load volumes into tally books or hand-held collection terminals.
- Paint identification marks of specified colors on logs to identify grades or species, using spray cans, or call out grades to log markers.
- Measure felled logs or loads of pulpwood to calculate volume, weight, dimensions, and marketable value, using measuring devices and conversion tables.
- Identify logs of substandard or special grade so that they can be returned to shippers, regraded, recut, or transferred for other processing.
- 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.
- Measure log lengths and mark boles for bucking into logs, according to specifications.
- Drive to sawmills, wharfs, or skids to inspect logs or pulpwood.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Conventional, Realistic, Investigative.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (64.2% of respondents)
- Related experience
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (26.4%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months (35.8%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 2: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Log Graders and Scalers is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | Very low | Lower on contact with others than 85% of occupations compared | 50% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others” |
| Dealing with the public | Moderate | Lower on dealing with the public than 55% of occupations compared | 26% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Teamwork | Very low | Lower on teamwork than 90% of occupations compared | 36% of surveyed respondents chose “Important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | High | Higher on freedom to make decisions than 70% of occupations compared | 71% of surveyed respondents chose “A lot of freedom” |
| Time pressure | Moderate | Lower on time pressure than 54% of occupations compared | 46% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day” |
| Conflict situations | Low | Lower on conflict situations than 62% of occupations compared | 52% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Low | Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 68% of occupations compared | 32% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Consequence of error | Moderate | Higher on consequence of error than 51% of occupations compared | 34% of surveyed respondents chose “Fairly serious” |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: moderate
- Conflict situations: low
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: low
- Consequence of error: moderate
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 0%
- Occasional contact with others: 29.76%
- Contact with others about half the time: 10.4%
- Contact with others most of the time: 10.21%
- Constant contact with others: 49.63%
n = 27, Incumbent 07/2017
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: 13.3%
- Fairly important: 16.9%
- Important: 22.96%
- Very important: 20.83%
- Extremely important: 26.01%
n = 27, Incumbent 07/2017
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 8.95%
- Fairly important: 3.31%
- Important: 35.55%
- Very important: 33.35%
- Extremely important: 18.85%
n = 27, Incumbent 07/2017
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 1.45%
- Very little freedom: 10.67%
- Limited freedom: 10.39%
- Some freedom: 6.24%
- A lot of freedom: 71.24%
n = 27, Incumbent 07/2017
Time pressure
- Never: 3.28%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 13.26%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 9.99%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 46.03%
- Every day: 27.45%
n = 25, Incumbent 07/2017
Conflict situations
- Never: 1.62%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 52.03%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 24.86%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 21.48%
- Every day: 0%
n = 25, Incumbent 07/2017
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: 23.21%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 32.25%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 28.71%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 5.84%
- Every day: 9.99%
n = 25, Incumbent 07/2017
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: 8.95%
- Fairly serious: 33.81%
- Serious: 18.65%
- Very serious: 26.46%
- Extremely serious: 12.15%
n = 27, Incumbent 07/2017
Is this career right for me? Find jobs with conditions you prefer
Where people with this background could move
- Analyze
Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping
Closeness 94/100
- Analyze
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
Closeness 93/100
- Analyze
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
Closeness 92/100
- Analyze
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
Closeness 92/100
- Analyze
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
Closeness 92/100
- Analyze
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
Closeness 91/100
Find more alternativesCompare skills with another job
O*NET-SOC 45-4023.00 · SOC 45-4023 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8