Log Graders and Scalers Salary
Log Graders and Scalers in Georgia make a median of $39,830 a year, or about $19.15 an hour. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $43,345 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 52.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Georgia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $40K get you in Georgia?
About log graders and scalers
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What this looks like in Georgia
Pay for log graders and scalers in Georgia runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,434/month, which is 53.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for log graders and scalerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level log graders and scalers (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $50K or more, a $29K 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 Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a log graders and scaler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 53.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new log graders and scalers typically earn — is $21K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,249/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 115% 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 Georgia?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $40K here vs. $46K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for log graders and scalers?
Georgia pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — below the national median.
How much do log graders and scalers make in Georgia?
The median is $39,830 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,810, and experienced log graders and scalers can clear $49,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,692/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 53.3% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $43,345 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.