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Logging & Timber Harvesting
Weyerhaeuser, West Fraser, Sierra Pacific Industries
Fallers
Fallers cut down trees by hand and control where each tree lands, often working with chainsaws, wedges, axes, and jacks in uneven or hazardous terrain. The job is very physical and highly technical at the same time: you have to judge tree lean, rot, weather, and escape routes before making a cut, because one mistake can damage equipment or injure people.
Also known as Tree FellerTimber FallerLogging FallerChainsaw FallerFeller
Median Salary
$53,900
Mean $59,120
U.S. Workforce
~4K
0.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-7.3%
5.6K to 5.2K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Fallers sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~4K workers, with a median annual pay of $53,900 and roughly 0.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 5.6 K in 2024 to 5.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Less than a High School Diploma, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Logging Crew Helper and can progress toward Logging Crew Lead. High-value skills usually include Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, and Tree Assessment, Felling Cuts & Wedges, paired with soft skills such as Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, and Active Listening.
Core Responsibilities
- Inspect trees for lean, rot, heavy limbs, and other signs that affect how they will fall.
- Clear brush, saplings, and other obstacles from the work area and the path used to get out safely.
- Make the cuts and set wedges or jacks so the tree tips in the intended direction.
- Work out how deep and where each cut should go before the saw starts biting into the trunk.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Inspect trees for lean, rot, heavy limbs, and other signs that affect how they will fall.
02 Clear brush, saplings, and other obstacles from the work area and the path used to get out safely.
03 Make the cuts and set wedges or jacks so the tree tips in the intended direction.
04 Work out how deep and where each cut should go before the saw starts biting into the trunk.
05 Measure downed trees and cut them into the required log lengths.
06 Choose which trees to cut based on the site, terrain, weather, and nearby hazards.
Industries That Hire
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Sawmills & Wood Products
Boise Cascade, Canfor, Interfor
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Pulp & Paper
Georgia-Pacific, International Paper, Domtar
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Forestry Contractors
Asplundh Tree Expert, The Davey Tree Expert Company, Bartlett Tree Experts
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Timberland Ownership & Management
Rayonier, PotlatchDeltic, Green Diamond Resource Company
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay can be solid for a job that usually does not require college, with a median annual wage of $53,900 and a mean of $59,120.
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You can enter the work with a high school diploma or even less, and employers typically train people on the job.
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The work is hands-on and specific: you are making real-time decisions about how each tree will fall.
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Even in a small occupation, there are still about 0.7K annual openings, mostly from replacement needs.
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If you like outdoor work and equipment, the job gives you a lot of time with chainsaws, wedges, jacks, and heavy logging gear.
Challenges
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Employment is expected to fall 7.3% over the next decade, from about 5.6K to 5.2K jobs, so the field is shrinking.
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The labor market is very small, with only 4,110 workers currently, which can make jobs hard to find in some regions.
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This is dangerous work: every tree has to be judged for lean, rot, wind, slope, and limb weight before the cut is made.
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Weather and terrain can stop or slow the job, and conditions often mean cold, wet, muddy, or remote worksites.
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The career ladder is fairly narrow, since long-term growth usually means moving into crew leadership or equipment operation rather than staying on the saw.
Career Progression
Logging Crew Helper
0-2 years
$32K-$43K
New workers handle brush clearing, tool carrying, site prep, and other support tasks while learning how the crew works.
Faller
1-4 years
$48K-$59K
At this level, workers cut and control trees directly, using saws and wedges to bring them down safely and accurately.
Senior Faller THIS ROLE
4-8 years
$60K-$74K
Experienced fallers take on tougher trees, more complex terrain, and the most hazardous cuts with less supervision.
Logging Crew Lead
8+ years
$75K-$92K
Crew leads plan the order of work, assign tasks, and make sure the site is being cut safely and efficiently.
Education Paths
Less than a High School Diploma
This is the most common background, held by 55.82% of workers in the occupation, because many people learn the trade through direct field experience.
High School Diploma or Equivalent
This is also a common route, held by 44.18% of workers, and many employers still expect new hires to learn safety and cutting skills on the job.
Moderate-term On-the-Job Training
BLS lists this as the typical training route, because new workers need supervised practice before they can work independently around saws and falling timber.
Logging Safety or Chainsaw Certification
A useful non-degree option for applicants who want proof of safe saw use and basic logging practices before applying.
Key Skills
Technical
Operation and Control 60%
Operations Monitoring 56%
Tree Assessment, Felling Cuts & Wedges 55%
Chainsaw Handling & Worksite Clearing 52%
Equipment Maintenance 47%
Repairing Chainsaws & Logging Gear 44%
Soft Skills
Critical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingActive ListeningAttention to DetailSituational AwarenessCommunication Job Outlook and Trends
+-7.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 5.6K to 5.2 K over the next decade, representing -7.3% growth. Around 0.7 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.