Logging — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the logging industry earns $56,619 per year ($27.22/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$56,619
Avg Annual Pay
43,958
Total Employees
7,936
Total Establishments
6
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Logging Workers Earn?

At $56,619/year (equivalent to $27.22/hour for a full-time worker), logging wages are below the national average of ~$65,000.

Lower wages in this industry are common in service-oriented or retail-adjacent sectors where entry barriers are lower. This can be an advantage for business owners managing payroll costs, but may contribute to higher turnover.

The typical logging business employs 6 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

21.6%

For the average logging business generating $1.6M/year with 6 employees at $56,619 each, total payroll represents roughly 21.6% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a loggingbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $73,605/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 6 employees = ~$339,714/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $27.22/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $1.6M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Logging revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do logging employees make?
The average logging employee earns $56,619 per year, which is equivalent to $27.22/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the logging industry?
The logging industry employs 43,958 workers across 7,936 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 6 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).