Fallers
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Each tree is appraised for lean, twist, rot, and heavy limb growth so cuts can steer the fall and limit damage. Cutting lines are scored with an axe; undercuts and back-cuts are sawn, leaving enough sound wood to keep control, and wedges or jacks are placed when needed. Brush and saplings are cleared from the work area and escape routes; when the tree starts to go, the saw is stopped, the bar is pulled free, and the cutter runs clear. Felled trunks are then measured, cut to specified lengths, and checked for quality. Suits people who like precise, physical work with axes and chainsaws and fast, careful judgment.
Typical education: Less than a High School Diploma
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$52'100
Median Wage Market Position
$52'100
What you might do
- Fell trees with chainsaws while steering the fall
- Judge lean, twist, rot, and heavy limbs
- Saw undercuts and back-cuts to guide fall
- Clear brush and open escape routes first
- Cut fallen trees into specified log lengths
- Drive wedges to keep the fall on course
Skills that matter
- Tree lean and defect appraisal
- Cut, wedge, and jack planning
- Directional control of a falling tree
- Escape-route clearing before the fall
- Cutting trunks to specified log lengths
- Chainsaw and axe upkeep
AI & the future of this role
Felling trees with chainsaws requires controlling fall direction, reading timber stress, and working in hazardous woods settings that are hard to fully automate. Safety judgment and skilled hands-on cutting still tend to matter even as some related forestry tasks modernize.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details