I have a buddy out east who topped for a high-grade helo operations, it was mostly oak and walnut. He got $40 a stem, plus a ride in the bird from.
He said it was cool for the first few days, then it was just like a bus ride after that. Piece work makes you push harder, and if you want to break $400 a day, you have a lot of pushing to do. He said that the only saving grace was that because it was all highgrade hardwood, the the climbs were rather easy, and cream jobs do not often take in account collateral damage.