Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$35,170
- 25th Percentile — Junior$43,970
- 50th Percentile — Median$49,740
- 75th Percentile — Senior$61,050
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$74,300
The top 10% of Logging Equipment Operators earn $74,300 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $35,170, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (est.) | $82,444 | +55.0% |
| District of Columbia (est.) | $80,849 | +52.0% |
| California | $74,210 | +39.5% |
| Washington | $73,980 | +39.1% |
| Alaska (est.) | $70,211 | +32.0% |
| New Jersey (est.) | $68,083 | +28.0% |
| Connecticut (est.) | $64,892 | +22.0% |
| Illinois | $62,930 | +18.3% |
| Rhode Island (est.) | $61,168 | +15.0% |
| Oregon | $59,670 | +12.2% |
| Montana | $59,620 | +12.1% |
| Idaho | $59,610 | +12.1% |
| Louisiana | $57,400 | +7.9% |
| Colorado | $56,440 | +6.1% |
| Texas | $56,190 | +5.6% |
| Delaware (est.) | $55,850 | +5.0% |
| South Dakota | $55,770 | +4.9% |
| Nevada (est.) | $54,254 | +2.0% |
| Minnesota | $54,110 | +1.7% |
| Utah (est.) | $53,190 | +0.0% |
| Vermont | $53,020 | -0.3% |
| Arizona (est.) | $52,658 | -1.0% |
| New Hampshire | $52,560 | -1.2% |
| Massachusetts | $52,170 | -1.9% |
| North Carolina | $52,040 | -2.2% |
| Maryland | $51,400 | -3.4% |
| Michigan | $50,510 | -5.0% |
| New York | $50,460 | -5.1% |
| South Carolina | $49,980 | -6.0% |
| Florida | $49,960 | -6.1% |
| Georgia | $49,850 | -6.3% |
| Ohio | $49,400 | -7.1% |
| North Dakota (est.) | $48,935 | -8.0% |
| Arkansas | $48,830 | -8.2% |
| Alabama | $48,550 | -8.7% |
| Maine | $48,200 | -9.4% |
| Missouri | $47,540 | -10.6% |
| Mississippi | $47,520 | -10.7% |
| Wisconsin | $47,520 | -10.7% |
| Pennsylvania | $47,000 | -11.6% |
| Virginia | $46,840 | -11.9% |
| Nebraska (est.) | $46,807 | -12.0% |
| New Mexico (est.) | $46,807 | -12.0% |
| Indiana | $46,350 | -12.9% |
| Iowa (est.) | $45,743 | -14.0% |
| Tennessee | $45,240 | -14.9% |
| Kansas (est.) | $45,212 | -15.0% |
| Wyoming | $44,400 | -16.5% |
| Oklahoma | $43,540 | -18.1% |
| West Virginia | $42,510 | -20.1% |
| Kentucky | $37,120 | -30.2% |
What Factors Affect Logging Equipment Operators Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Logging Equipment Operators is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: California pays an average of $74,210, while Kentucky pays $37,120 — a gap of $37,090 per year.
The middle half of Logging Equipment Operators earn between $43,970 and $61,050 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,170, while the top 10% earn more than $74,300.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Related career salary benchmarks
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Logging Equipment Operators?
The average salary for Logging Equipment Operators in the United States is $53,190 per year, with a median of $49,740.
What is the starting salary for Logging Equipment Operators?
Entry-level Logging Equipment Operators typically earn between $35,170 and $43,970 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Logging Equipment Operators the most?
California pays Logging Equipment Operators the most at $74,210 per year on average, followed by Washington ($73,980) and Illinois ($62,930).
How much do Logging Equipment Operators make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $53,190, Logging Equipment Operators earn approximately $25.57 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Logging Equipment Operators a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 21,060 Logging Equipment Operators jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $53,190 and a median of $49,740 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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