DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

Use axes or chainsaws to fell trees using knowledge of tree characteristics and cutting techniques to control direction of fall and minimize tree damage.

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
Wages Updated to First Quarter, 2020

					Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	Mean SE*	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Minnesota	N/A	N/A	$22.54/hr	$1.47/hr	$18.65/hr	$20.67/hr	$22.36/hr	$24.06/hr	$25.07/hr
U S	4,890	621	$24.23/hr	$1.02/hr	$15.04/hr	$17.24/hr	$21.78/hr	$30.16/hr	$38.51/hr
*SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate.

Related Occupations

Occupation (click title for details)	OES		Projections
	Employment	Median Wage	% Change  -
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters	6,340	$41.64/hr	N/A
Pipelayers	390	$30.92/hr	N/A
Crane and Tower Operators	100	$37.60/hr	N/A
Hoist and Winch Operators	N/A	N/A	N/A

• Scores cutting lines with ax, saws undercut along scored lines with chain saw, and knocks slabs from cuts with ax.
• Inserts jacks or drives wedge behind saw to prevent binding of saw and start tree falling.
• Cuts felled trees into log lengths, using chain saw and ax.
• Stops saw engine as tree falls, pulls cutting bar from cut, and runs to safe location to avoid injury.
• Splits logs, using ax, wedges, and maul, and stacks wood in rick or cord lots.
• Clears brush from work area and escape route, and cuts sapling and other trees from direction of fall, using ax and chain saw.
• Secures cables to logs, and drives tractor to drag logs to landing.
• Appraises tree for characteristics, such as twist, rot, and heavy limb growth, and gauges amount and direction of lean.
• Tags unsafe trees with high visibility ribbon.
• Loads logs or wood onto trucks, by hand or using winch.
• Places supporting limbs or poles under felled tree to avoid splitting underside and to prevent log from rolling.
• Measures and marks felled trees for cutting into log lengths.
• Determines position, direction, and depth of cuts to be made, and placement of wedges or jacks.
• Cuts limbs from felled trees, using chain saw or ax.
• Saws back-cuts, leaving sufficient sound wood to control direction of fall.