Log Graders and Scalers Salary
Log Graders and Scalers in Arkansas make a median of $42,340 a year, or about $20.36 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $53K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $48,311 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 35.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Arkansas. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
Where the paycheck goes
What $42K actually covers in Arkansas, month by month
About log graders and scalers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Arkansas
Log graders and scalers pay in Arkansas tracks closely to the national median, $42K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,021/month, which is 35.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level log graders and scalers (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $53K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track log graders and scalers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
Related careers in Farming & Fishing
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a log graders and scaler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 35.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for log graders and scalers in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new log graders and scalers typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,907/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 54% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is log graders and scaler a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $42K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for log graders and scalers?
Arkansas pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do log graders and scalers make in Arkansas?
The median is $42,340 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,050, and experienced log graders and scalers can clear $52,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,881/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 35.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a log graders and scalers salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median log graders and scalers salary is worth about $48,311 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do log graders and scalers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.