Log Graders and Scalers Salary
Log Graders and Scalers in Michigan make a median of $51,810 a year, or about $24.91 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $55,182 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month, about 37.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Michigan. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $52K get you in Michigan?
About log graders and scalers
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What this looks like in Michigan
Michigan sits well above the national pay line for log graders and scalers, local pay runs about 12% 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 $1,272/month, which is 36.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level log graders and scalers (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $18K 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 Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a log graders and scaler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 36.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new log graders and scalers typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,648/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Michigan?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $52K here vs. $46K nationally.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for log graders and scalers?
Michigan pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do log graders and scalers make in Michigan?
The median is $51,810 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,130, and experienced log graders and scalers can clear $62,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,456/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 36.8% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $55,182 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.