In general, larger companies offer "market" pay and will have benefits.
Around here most logging is done by small "gypo" outfits. Many of these pay rock bottom wages with no benefits. Also you can go weeks or months without work during certain times of the year. Like winter if there is too much snow. Or summer if it is too dry and the risk of fire causes a shut down or limitation of logging operations.
The most pay is a management position at a larger company [any field of work], although along with this can come a lot of stress and long working hours. The route to management, big bucks, and stress is an MBA.
Personally I would rather be broke, doing something I like doing all day, and have free time at home for fun, rather than be rolling in the dough and working 90 hours a week!
So far as pay and benefits, just ask! Call up different companies and say you are a student considering your career. Ask about pay and benefits for different jobs the company has. Might be able to talk to different people and find out what they do for their job. Some companies may allow you to tag along with someone for a day or half day and see what they do for their job.
Most people and companies will be helpful with the above. Some will be more helpful. Some will be nasty and tell you to go away. If someone is nasty to you, then you did not want to work there anyway! So good learning experience. If most companies in a particular line of work are happy, helpful with your questions, and welcome you to come visit, then that might be a good place to work with good people to work around.
You spend 8 or 9 hours a day at work. This is a BIG portion of your life! Personally I prefer to be in a friendly enjoyable atmosphere as much as possible.
