Log Graders and Scalers Salary
Log Graders and Scalers in South Carolina make a median of $44,370 a year, or about $21.33 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $47,623 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 41.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $44K get you in South Carolina?
About log graders and scalers
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Log graders and scalers pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $44K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,263/month, which is 41.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, South Carolina
Entry-level log graders and scalers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $21K 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 South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a log graders and scaler afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 41.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/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 South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new log graders and scalers typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,845/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 68% 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 South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $44K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for log graders and scalers?
South Carolina pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do log graders and scalers make in South Carolina?
The median is $44,370 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,750, and experienced log graders and scalers can clear $51,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,040/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 41.5% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $47,623 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.