Logging Equipment Operators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for logging equipment operators is $49,740, or $23.91 per hour. About 21,060 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $75,140 in Washington to $30,230 in Kentucky.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 36 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $75,140 | $36.12 | 1,150 | 2.38 |
| 2 | Illinois | $71,100 | $34.19 | 40 | 0.05 |
| 3 | Texas | $62,890 | $30.24 | 500 | 0.26 |
| 4 | California | $61,940 | $29.78 | 950 | 0.39 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $58,740 | $28.24 | 50 | 0.88 |
| 6 | Oregon | $58,720 | $28.23 | 1,860 | 6.98 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $58,600 | $28.17 | 770 | 2.96 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $58,590 | $28.17 | 320 | 0.81 |
| 9 | Montana | $56,530 | $27.18 | 190 | 2.72 |
| 10 | Idaho | $56,490 | $27.16 | 560 | 4.86 |
| 11 | Vermont | $52,910 | $25.44 | 60 | 1.58 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $51,540 | $24.78 | 170 | 1.87 |
| 13 | Ohio | $50,590 | $24.32 | 260 | 0.34 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $49,650 | $23.87 | 40 | 0.93 |
| 15 | Mississippi | $49,620 | $23.86 | 1,220 | 7.77 |
| 16 | Colorado | $49,620 | $23.86 | 70 | 0.18 |
| 17 | Florida | $49,370 | $23.74 | 770 | 0.57 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $48,960 | $23.54 | — | — |
| 19 | North Carolina | $48,420 | $23.28 | 990 | 1.48 |
| 20 | Arkansas | $48,280 | $23.21 | 1,280 | 7.26 |
| 21 | Alabama | $47,810 | $22.99 | 1,860 | 6.50 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $47,650 | $22.91 | 920 | 2.94 |
| 23 | Michigan | $47,610 | $22.89 | 860 | 1.44 |
| 24 | New York | $47,540 | $22.86 | 290 | 0.22 |
| 25 | Maryland | $47,530 | $22.85 | 60 | 0.15 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $46,880 | $22.54 | 360 | 0.44 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $46,360 | $22.29 | 480 | 1.20 |
| 28 | Indiana | $46,320 | $22.27 | 150 | 0.35 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $46,310 | $22.26 | 400 | 0.90 |
| 30 | Virginia | $46,090 | $22.16 | 570 | 1.02 |
| 31 | Georgia | $45,080 | $21.67 | 1,620 | 2.45 |
| 32 | Maine | $44,780 | $21.53 | 830 | 9.56 |
| 33 | Missouri | $41,770 | $20.08 | 140 | 0.35 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $37,270 | $17.92 | 130 | 0.54 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $36,130 | $17.37 | 310 | 3.29 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $30,230 | $14.53 | 300 | 1.11 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do logging equipment operators make?
The median annual wage for logging equipment operators in the United States is $49,740, or $23.91 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $35,170, and the top 10% earn $74,300.
How many logging equipment operators are employed in the U.S.?
About 21,060 people work as logging equipment operators nationwide.
Which state pays logging equipment operators the most?
Washington pays the most at a median of $75,140, followed by Illinois ($71,100) and Texas ($62,890).
Which state pays logging equipment operators the least?
Kentucky has the lowest median at $30,230.
Where are logging equipment operators jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Maine at 9.56×.