Log Graders and Scalers Salary
Log Graders and Scalers in Tennessee make a median of $35,920 a year, or about $17.27 an hour. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $40,009 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 47% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Tennessee. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $36K get you in Tennessee?
About log graders and scalers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for log graders and scalers in Tennessee runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 47.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for log graders and scalerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level log graders and scalers (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $27K 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 Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a log graders and scaler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 47.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new log graders and scalers typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,724/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 70% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $36K here vs. $46K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for log graders and scalers?
Tennessee pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — below the national median.
How much do log graders and scalers make in Tennessee?
The median is $35,920 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,730, and experienced log graders and scalers can clear $56,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,575/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 47.2% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $40,009 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.