Fallers
What Fallers Do
Use axes or chainsaws to fell trees using knowledge of tree characteristics and cutting techniques to control direction of fall and minimize tree damage.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- 29.6%
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 2 of 5Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Job training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Mechanicalimportance 2.9/5
- Production and Processingimportance 2.7/5
- Administration and Managementimportance 2.5/5
- Public Safety and Securityimportance 2.4/5
- Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 2.4/5
- Mathematicsimportance 2.2/5
- Economics and Accountingimportance 2.2/5
- Law and Governmentimportance 2.1/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets5.0/5
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions4.9/5
- Exposed to Hazardous Equipment4.9/5
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls4.8/5
- Freedom to Make Decisions4.8/5
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals4.6/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining92% skill match
- Rock Splitters, Quarry92% skill match
- Pourers and Casters, Metal91% skill match
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders90% skill match
- Pile Driver Operators90% skill match
- Crane and Tower Operators90% skill match
- Helpers--Extraction Workers89% skill match
- Hoist and Winch Operators89% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Operation and Controlimportance 3.4/5
- Operations Monitoringimportance 3.3/5
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.0/5
- Equipment Maintenanceimportance 2.9/5
- Troubleshootingimportance 2.8/5
- Repairingimportance 2.8/5
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 2.6/5
- Equipment Selectionimportance 2.6/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
Other Software Used
- Assisi Compiler
- Assisi Software Assisi Inventory
- Assisi Software Assisi Manager
- Assisi Software Assisi Resource
- BCS Woodlands Software The Logger Tracker
- BCS Woodlands Software Woodlands Tracker
- ESRI ArcView
- Geographic information system GIS systems
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Cautiousness
- Dependability
- Self-Control
- Perseverance
- Attention to Detail
- Stress Tolerance
- Self-Confidence
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- RealisticHigh
- ConventionalMedium
- InvestigativeLow
- SocialLow
- EnterprisingLow
- ArtisticLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodCareer Change
- Rock Splitters, QuarryCareer Change
- Agricultural Equipment OperatorsLateral Move
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsCareer Change