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What is a lumber grader and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

Lumber graders work for a whole smorgasbord of industries where they're responsible for looking for knots, holes and splits in lumber. Then they sort this lumber to be dryed, trimmed or manufactured.

Typically, a lumber grader will work at a sawmill, lumber yard or another commercial establishment carrying out these duties. If you pride yourself on how well you can access the wood grain, then maybe this job was made for you!

ScoreLumber GraderUS Average
Salary
2.7

Avg. Salary $34,386

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.1

Growth Rate -4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.81%

Asian 1.07%

Black or African American 8.17%

Hispanic or Latino 9.36%

Unknown 4.91%

White 74.68%

Gender

female 15.13%

male 84.87%

Age - 40
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40
Stress Level
7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.8

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
5.2

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

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Lumber Grader career paths

Key steps to become a lumber grader

  1. Explore lumber grader education requirements

    Most common lumber grader degrees

    High School Diploma

    45.4 %

    Associate

    28.3 %

    Bachelor's

    13.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific lumber grader skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Tape Measure49.48%
    Production Reports10.34%
    Hardwood10.33%
    TPI8.10%
    RAN6.60%
  3. Complete relevant lumber grader training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lumber graders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a lumber grader based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lumber grader resumes.
  4. Research lumber grader duties and responsibilities

    • Provide feedback on errors, manage records on blackboard and proctore during exams.
    • Grade lumber and run heavy equipment
    • Use electric sanders and planers.
    • Grade lumber according to WWPA rules.
  5. Apply for lumber grader jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a lumber grader job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Lumber Grader Job

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Average lumber grader salary

The average Lumber Grader salary in the United States is $34,386 per year or $17 per hour. Lumber grader salaries range between $21,000 and $54,000 per year.

Average Lumber Grader Salary
$34,386 Yearly
$16.53 hourly

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How do lumber graders rate their job?

4/5

Based On 1 Ratings

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Lumber Grader reviews

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4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

The responsibility of putting the price tags on the lumber as a key component of company profit and loss.

Cons

Standing in one place for hours.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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