Log Graders and Scalers Salary
Log Graders and Scalers in Longview-Kelso, WA make a median of $61,030 a year, or about $29.34 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.55), that's roughly $62,563 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,451/month, about 34.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $61K get you in Longview-Kelso?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Longview-Kelso’s Regional Price Parity (97.55). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About log graders and scalers
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What this looks like in Longview-Kelso
Longview-Kelso sits well above the national pay line for log graders and scalers, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $46K. Rent runs $1,451/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.55) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Longview-Kelso, WA
Entry-level log graders and scalers (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Log Graders and Scalers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Log Graders and Scalers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $62K | +33% | 200 |
| Oregon | $60K | +30% | 50 |
| Idaho | $58K | +24% | 140 |
| California | $57K | +22% | 320 |
| Michigan | $52K | +12% | 50 |
| Maine | $50K | +8% | 120 |
| Ohio | $50K | +7% | 30 |
| Mississippi | $48K | +4% | 130 |
| Louisiana | $48K | +3% | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $47K | +0% | 30 |
| Indiana | $46K | -0% | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $46K | -0% | 180 |
| Kentucky | $45K | -2% | 80 |
| Alabama | $45K | -3% | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $45K | -4% | 330 |
| South Carolina | $44K | -4% | 40 |
| West Virginia | $43K | -7% | 90 |
| Arkansas | $42K | -9% | 190 |
| Georgia | $40K | -14% | 130 |
| Florida | $39K | -16% | 70 |
| Missouri | $37K | -19% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $37K | -20% | 200 |
| Virginia | $36K | -22% | 80 |
| Texas | $36K | -22% | 40 |
| Tennessee | $36K | -22% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 25 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track log graders and scalers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Longview-Kelso numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a log graders and scaler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Longview-Kelso?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 34.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,451/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Longview-Kelso?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new log graders and scalers typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,082/month. At HUD’s $1,451/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Longview-Kelso?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $61K here vs. $46K nationally.
How does Longview-Kelso compare to the national average for log graders and scalers?
Longview-Kelso pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do log graders and scalers make in Longview-Kelso, WA?
The median is $61,030 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,370, and experienced log graders and scalers can clear $69,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Longview-Kelso?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,256/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,451/month, which eats 34.1% 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 Longview-Kelso?
Longview-Kelso has a Regional Price Parity of 97.55 (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 $62,563 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.