Log Graders and Scalers Salary
Log Graders and Scalers in Pennsylvania make a median of $44,550 a year, or about $21.42 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $46,910 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 43.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Pennsylvania. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
Where the paycheck goes
What $45K actually covers in Pennsylvania, month by month
About log graders and scalers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Log graders and scalers pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $45K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 44.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level log graders and scalers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $24K 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 Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a log graders and scaler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 44.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new log graders and scalers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,545/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $45K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for log graders and scalers?
Pennsylvania pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do log graders and scalers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $44,550 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,880, and experienced log graders and scalers can clear $60,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,039/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 44.5% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $46,910 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.