SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Use axes or chainsaws to fell trees using knowledge of tree characteristics and cutting techniques to control direction of fall and minimize tree damage.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 45-4021.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $35,180 | $2,932 | $677 | $16.91 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $41,360 | $3,447 | $795 | $19.89 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $52,100 | $4,342 | $1,002 | $25.05 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $63,390 | $5,282 | $1,219 | $30.48 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $82,360 | $6,863 | $1,584 | $39.60 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Fallers is $52,100, which is 2% higher. Among the 13 occupations of the field Farming, Fishing, and Forestry, it ranks number 2 by median pay. With 3,130 jobs, it makes up about 0.2 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Fallers pay by state
The highest median pay was in Oregon ($84,490), Idaho ($78,330) and Washington ($77,340). The lowest was in Indiana ($26,210), New York ($36,190) and Georgia ($39,380). The most jobs were in Michigan (410), Virginia (330) and California (260). The occupation is most concentrated in Idaho, where its share of all jobs is 11.0 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 180 | $84,490 | $88,230 | $40.62 |
| Idaho | 190 | $78,330 | $90,180 | $37.66 |
| Washington | not published | $77,340 | $87,690 | $37.18 |
| South Carolina | 130 | $76,350 | $73,000 | $36.71 |
| Arkansas | not published | $67,060 | $61,310 | $32.24 |
| Louisiana | 200 | $62,040 | $56,370 | $29.83 |
| California | 260 | $59,590 | $62,990 | $28.65 |
| Maryland | 60 | $58,300 | $56,220 | $28.03 |
| Mississippi | 140 | $54,110 | $57,930 | $26.01 |
| Michigan | 410 | $51,700 | $48,920 | $24.86 |
| Wisconsin | not published | $50,010 | $62,940 | $24.04 |
| Virginia | 330 | $48,340 | $45,350 | $23.24 |
| Ohio | not published | $47,700 | $48,720 | $22.93 |
| Tennessee | 80 | $47,560 | $48,750 | $22.87 |
| North Carolina | 200 | $46,080 | $46,520 | $22.15 |
| Georgia | 170 | $39,380 | $44,960 | $18.94 |
| New York | 120 | $36,190 | $48,930 | $17.40 |
| Indiana | 40 | $26,210 | $39,150 | $12.60 |
| Alabama | 80 | not published | not published | not published |
| Pennsylvania | 80 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$59,320 a year
- Animal Breeders$51,130 a year
- Logging Workers, All Other$50,840 a year
- Agricultural Inspectors$49,940 a year
Common questions
How much do Fallers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $52,100 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,180 and the highest-paid 10% more than $82,360.
How many people work as Fallers?
About 3,130 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.