Fallers
Fallers (SOC 45-4021) earn a median $52,100 a year ($25.05 an hour) in the United States, with 3,130 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Oregon.
What fallers do
Fallers use axes or chainsaws to fell trees, applying their knowledge of tree characteristics and cutting techniques to control the direction of the fall and limit damage to the tree. They appraise each tree for features such as twist, rot, and heavy limb growth, and gauge the amount and direction of lean, to decide how to steer its fall. They then determine the position, direction, and depth of the cuts and where to place wedges or jacks. Direction is controlled by scoring cutting lines with axes, sawing undercuts along the scored lines with chainsaws, knocking slabs from the cuts with single-bit axes, and driving wedges, and the back-cut is sawn so that enough sound wood remains to hold the tree. Fallers clear brush from the work area and escape routes, stop the saw and pull the bar from the cut as the tree falls, and run to safety. Afterward they measure felled trees, cut them into specified log lengths, and check that the quality and length are correct. Chain saw operator, axman, and cross cut sawyer are alternate titles for the work.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report less than a high school diploma as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: All-Round Logger, Arborist, Arborist Assistant, Arborist Climber, Arborist Representative.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.91 | $19.89 | $25.05 | $30.48 | $39.60 | $27.46 | 3,130 |
| Annual | $35,180 | $41,360 | $52,100 | $63,390 | $82,360 | $57,110 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where fallers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $22.98 | $25.30 | $40.62 | $63.38 | $65.02 | $42.42 | 180 | 0.09 | 4.55 |
| Annual | $47,800 | $52,630 | $84,490 | $131,840 | $135,250 | $88,230 | ||||
| Idaho | Hourly | $29.70 | $29.70 | $37.66 | $54.00 | $58.53 | $43.36 | 190 | 0.22 | 11.04 |
| Annual | $61,780 | $61,780 | $78,330 | $112,320 | $121,750 | $90,180 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $30.48 | $36.69 | $37.18 | $50.12 | $55.74 | $42.16 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $63,400 | $76,320 | $77,340 | $104,240 | $115,940 | $87,690 | ||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | $26.77 | $30.00 | $36.71 | $42.50 | $42.50 | $35.10 | 130 | 0.06 | 2.73 |
| Annual | $55,680 | $62,400 | $76,350 | $88,400 | $88,400 | $73,000 | ||||
| Arkansas | Hourly | $20.95 | $26.40 | $32.24 | $33.00 | $34.33 | $29.48 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $43,580 | $54,910 | $67,060 | $68,640 | $71,410 | $61,310 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $18.25 | $18.36 | $24.86 | $25.74 | $29.52 | $23.52 | 410 | 0.09 | 4.63 |
| Annual | $37,960 | $38,180 | $51,700 | $53,540 | $61,390 | $48,920 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $16.89 | $18.31 | $23.24 | $24.02 | $26.42 | $21.80 | 330 | 0.08 | 4.04 |
| Annual | $35,130 | $38,080 | $48,340 | $49,960 | $54,960 | $45,350 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $23.64 | $27.46 | $28.65 | $34.85 | $36.91 | $30.28 | 260 | 0.01 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $49,180 | $57,110 | $59,590 | $72,480 | $76,770 | $62,990 | ||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $22.67 | $22.67 | $29.83 | $29.83 | $30.48 | $27.10 | 200 | 0.10 | 5.17 |
| Annual | $47,150 | $47,150 | $62,040 | $62,040 | $63,390 | $56,370 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $14.18 | $18.17 | $22.15 | $29.66 | $30.51 | $22.37 | 200 | 0.04 | 2.01 |
| Annual | $29,500 | $37,780 | $46,080 | $61,680 | $63,460 | $46,520 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $25.30 | $25.30 | $36.99 | $50.98 | $70.62 | $40.85 | 30 | 0.03 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $52,630 | $52,630 | $76,940 | $106,040 | $146,880 | $84,980 | ||||
| Richmond, VA | Hourly | $16.91 | $19.50 | $19.50 | $23.79 | $25.76 | $21.36 | 40 | 0.05 | 2.69 |
| Annual | $35,180 | $40,560 | $40,560 | $49,470 | $53,570 | $44,420 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Richmond, VA | Hourly | $16.91 | $19.50 | $19.50 | $23.79 | $25.76 | $21.36 | 40 | 0.05 | 2.69 |
| Annual | $35,180 | $40,560 | $40,560 | $49,470 | $53,570 | $44,420 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $25.30 | $25.30 | $36.99 | $50.98 | $70.62 | $40.85 | 30 | 0.03 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $52,630 | $52,630 | $76,940 | $106,040 | $146,880 | $84,980 | ||||
Top industries employing fallers
Logging employ 78.0% of fallers nationally (2,440 jobs) at a median $51,200 a year ($24.62 an hour), followed by Services to Buildings and Dwellings (15.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logging NAICS 113300 | 2,440 | 78.0% | $51,200 | $24.62 |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings NAICS 561700 | 490 | 15.7% | $53,540 | $25.74 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (3,130). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $47,700 for fallers in May 2021 and $52,100 in May 2025, with employment of 4,170 and 3,130.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $47,700 | $22.94 | 4,170 |
| May 2022 | $49,160 | $23.64 | 4,530 |
| May 2023 | $53,170 | $25.56 | 4,800 |
| May 2024 | $53,900 | $25.92 | 4,110 |
| May 2025 | $52,100 | $25.05 | 3,130 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
20 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon profile | $40.62 | $84,490 | $47,800 | $135,250 | 180 | 0.09 | 4.55 |
| 2 | Idaho profile | $37.66 | $78,330 | $61,780 | $121,750 | 190 | 0.22 | 11.04 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $37.18 | $77,340 | $63,400 | $115,940 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | South Carolina profile | $36.71 | $76,350 | $55,680 | $88,400 | 130 | 0.06 | 2.73 |
| 5 | Arkansas profile | $32.24 | $67,060 | $43,580 | $71,410 | ** | ** | ** |
| 6 | Louisiana profile | $29.83 | $62,040 | $47,150 | $63,390 | 200 | 0.10 | 5.17 |
| 7 | California profile | $28.65 | $59,590 | $49,180 | $76,770 | 260 | 0.01 | 0.71 |
| 8 | Maryland profile | $28.03 | $58,300 | $47,530 | $66,780 | 60 | 0.02 | 1.13 |
| 9 | Mississippi profile | $26.01 | $54,110 | $41,360 | $84,020 | 140 | 0.12 | 6.13 |
| 10 | Michigan profile | $24.86 | $51,700 | $37,960 | $61,390 | 410 | 0.09 | 4.63 |
| 11 | Wisconsin profile | $24.04 | $50,010 | $50,010 | $98,910 | ** | ** | ** |
| 12 | Virginia profile | $23.24 | $48,340 | $35,130 | $54,960 | 330 | 0.08 | 4.04 |
| 13 | Ohio profile | $22.93 | $47,700 | $40,670 | $59,350 | ** | ** | ** |
| 14 | Tennessee profile | $22.87 | $47,560 | $35,140 | $77,310 | 80 | 0.03 | 1.22 |
| 15 | North Carolina profile | $22.15 | $46,080 | $29,500 | $63,460 | 200 | 0.04 | 2.01 |
| 16 | Georgia profile | $18.94 | $39,380 | $35,160 | $47,230 | 170 | 0.04 | 1.77 |
| 17 | New York profile | $17.40 | $36,190 | $32,240 | $72,020 | 120 | 0.01 | 0.60 |
| 18 | Indiana profile | $12.60 | $26,210 | $26,210 | $63,810 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.68 |
| – | Alabama profile | * | * | * | * | 80 | 0.04 | 1.77 |
| – | Pennsylvania profile | * | * | * | * | 80 | 0.01 | 0.65 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (45-4020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 45-4021 Fallers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 45-4021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 45-4021.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.