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What is a lumberjack and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a lumberjack. For example, did you know that they make an average of $26.79 an hour? That's $55,728 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -4% and produce -1,800 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreLumberjackUS Average
Salary
4.4

Avg. Salary $55,728

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
5.4

Growth Rate -4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.83%

Asian 1.07%

Black or African American 7.38%

Hispanic or Latino 9.38%

Unknown 4.92%

White 75.42%

Gender

female 5.26%

male 94.74%

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
5.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.0

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.2

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a lumberjack

  1. Explore lumberjack education requirements

    Most common lumberjack degrees

    High School Diploma

    51.6 %

    Bachelor's

    30.6 %

    Associate

    11.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific lumberjack skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Chain Saws68.19%
    Cut Trees31.81%
  3. Complete relevant lumberjack training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lumberjacks 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 lumberjack based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lumberjack resumes.
  4. Research lumberjack duties and responsibilities

    • Operate heavy machinery including skidder and forwarder
    • Gain experience with fiber optics, team building, OSHA safety standards, cable and internet systems
  5. Prepare your lumberjack resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your lumberjack resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a lumberjack resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Lumberjack Resume templates

    Build a professional Lumberjack resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Lumberjack resume.
    Lumberjack Resume
    Lumberjack Resume
    Lumberjack Resume
    Lumberjack Resume
    Lumberjack Resume
    Lumberjack Resume
    Lumberjack Resume
    Lumberjack Resume
    Lumberjack Resume
  6. Apply for lumberjack jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a lumberjack 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 Lumberjack Job

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Average lumberjack salary

The average Lumberjack salary in the United States is $55,728 per year or $27 per hour. Lumberjack salaries range between $28,000 and $110,000 per year.

Average Lumberjack Salary
$55,728 Yearly
$26.79 hourly

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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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