Farming, fishing & forestry · SOC 45-4022
Logging equipment operators
BLS projects 29,300 jobs in 2025 to become 28,200 by 2035 — -3.8%, against +3.5% across all occupations.
-3.8%
projected change to 2035
About 1,100 fewer jobs
3,700
openings a year
12.6% of the occupation a year, counting people who retire or move on
$49,740
median annual pay
Usually entered with: high school diploma or equivalent
2025 to 2035
Employment at the start and end of the projection, in jobs.
- 2025 employment29,300
- 2035 projected28,200
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025–2035 projections.
Other farming, fishing & forestry occupations
The largest occupations in the same group, by projected change to 2035.
- Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse546,800-2.4%
- Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals202,100-3.2%
- Agricultural equipment operators66,900+8.6%
- First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers57,600+3.8%
- Graders and sorters, agricultural products45,400-3.4%
- Fishing and hunting workers28,200-4.2%
- Agricultural inspectors17,800+2.3%
- Forest and conservation workers14,700-1.5%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.