Forest and Conservation Workers vs Log Graders and Scalers: $44K vs $46K Median Pay

Forest and Conservation Workers vs Log Graders and Scalers: what changes?

Consider Forest and Conservation Workers if you want to under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, forested areas, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands through such activities as raising and transporting…. 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.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Forest and Conservation 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

Forest and Conservation Workers

National median pay (2025): $43,680
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: Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 2,200

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 1.5% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Forest and Conservation 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

Forest and Conservation Workers has the edge on annual openings

Forest and Conservation Workers is at 2,200 annual openings, compared with 600 annual openings for Log Graders and Scalers.

Log Graders and Scalers has the edge on median pay

Log Graders and Scalers is at $46,330, compared with $43,680 for Forest and Conservation Workers.

Forest and Conservation Workers has the edge on projected growth

Forest and Conservation Workers is at -1.5% projected growth, compared with -2.2% projected growth for Log Graders and Scalers.

32.7/ 100

Forest and Conservation 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

Forest and Conservation Workers vs Log Graders and Scalers

Dimension	Forest and Conservation Workers	Log Graders and Scalers
Median pay (2025)	$43,680	$46,330
Pay percentile	16 percentile	21 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	-1.5%	-2.2%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	2,200	600
2025 employment	14,700	4,400
How you qualify	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	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 2	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	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 Forest and Conservation Workers brief Read Log Graders and Scalers brief

Forest and Conservation Workers vs Log Graders and Scalers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Forest and Conservation Workers

Log Graders and Scalers

How the national numbers differ

Forest and Conservation Workers has the edge on annual openings

Log Graders and Scalers has the edge on median pay

Forest and Conservation Workers has the edge on projected growth

Forest and Conservation Workers vs Log Graders and Scalers

Try another comparison

Forest and Conservation Workers vs Logging Equipment Operators

Forest and Conservation Workers vs Animal Breeders

Log Graders and Scalers vs Fallers

Log Graders and Scalers vs Logging Equipment Operators