Log Graders and Scalers Salary
Log Graders and Scalers in Mississippi make a median of $48,010 a year, or about $23.08 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $55K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.9), which stretches that salary to about $54,004 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,077/month, about 32.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Mississippi. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $48K get you in Mississippi?
About log graders and scalers
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What this looks like in Mississippi
Log graders and scalers pay in Mississippi tracks closely to the national median, $48K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,077/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.9 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Mississippi
Entry-level log graders and scalers (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $55K or more, a $23K 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 Mississippi numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a log graders and scaler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Mississippi?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 33.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,077/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 Mississippi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new log graders and scalers typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,911/month. At HUD’s $1,077/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Mississippi?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $48K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Mississippi compare to the national average for log graders and scalers?
Mississippi pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do log graders and scalers make in Mississippi?
The median is $48,010 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,850, and experienced log graders and scalers can clear $54,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Mississippi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,197/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,077/month, which eats 33.7% 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi has a Regional Price Parity of 88.9 (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 $54,004 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.