First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers vs Log Graders and Scalers: $59K vs $46K Median Pay

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers vs Log Graders and Scalers: what changes?

Consider First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers if you want to directly supervise and coordinate the activities of agricultural, forestry, aquacultural, and related workers. Consider Log Graders and Scalers if you would rather grade logs or estimate the marketable content or value of logs or pulpwood in sorting yards, millpond, log deck, or similar locations. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers and Log Graders and Scalers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

National median pay (2025): $59,320
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Assign tasks such as feeding and treatment of animals, and cleaning and maintenance of animal quarters.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 7,200

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers brief

Log Graders and Scalers

National median pay (2025): $46,330
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Evaluate log characteristics and determine grades, using established criteria.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 600

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 2.2% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Log Graders and Scalers brief

How the national numbers differ

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers has the edge on annual openings

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers is at 7,200 annual openings, compared with 600 annual openings for Log Graders and Scalers.

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers has the edge on projected growth

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers is at 3.8% projected growth, compared with -2.2% projected growth for Log Graders and Scalers.

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers has the edge on median pay

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers is at $59,320, compared with $46,330 for Log Graders and Scalers.

Typical preparation differs.

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years Log Graders and Scalers: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

54.2/ 100

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

26.4/ 100

Log Graders and Scalers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers vs Log Graders and Scalers

Dimension	First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers	Log Graders and Scalers
Median pay (2025)	$59,320	$46,330
Pay percentile	46.7 percentile	21 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	3.8%	-2.2%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	7,200	600
2025 employment	57,600	4,400
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years	High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers brief Read Log Graders and Scalers brief

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers vs Log Graders and Scalers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

Log Graders and Scalers

How the national numbers differ

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers has the edge on annual openings

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers has the edge on projected growth

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers has the edge on median pay

Typical preparation differs.

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers vs Log Graders and Scalers

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First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers vs Logging Equipment Operators

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