Log Graders and Scalers Salary
Log Graders and Scalers in California make a median of $56,670 a year, or about $27.24 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $53,392 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 66.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of California. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $57K get you in California?
About log graders and scalers
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for log graders and scalers, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 64.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level log graders and scalers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $63K 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 California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a log graders and scaler afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 64.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new log graders and scalers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,194/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 113% 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 California?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $57K here vs. $46K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for log graders and scalers?
California pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do log graders and scalers make in California?
The median is $56,670 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,570, and experienced log graders and scalers can clear $62,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,823/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 64.6% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median log graders and scalers salary is worth about $53,392 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.