West Coast Fallers Pay

[Chris nelson]

I've been cutting Timber for 28 years now. I've been in Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona. I've cut for almost all the Heli-Logging companies around Montana, Idaho, Oregon, yada, yada, yada and Yarders up and down the West Coast.

I wanted to share an observation I've recently made about a new area into which I've moved in northern Oregon on the coast. I'd also like to share an observations I've made around 17 years ago when working for a heli outfit close to Tillamook, Oregon. I'll start with the Tillamook experience.

Needless to say me and the Misses landed in Tillamook in September of 97. When we got to the job the Mill fella met us on the landing to go over specs. One point of interest was when the Mill fella requested that we please do not divolge to any of the local cutters how much we were making as there were local cutters on a job right next to us. At that time I remember the Elite cutter group that I tended to associate with had made a pact that we would not work for any less than $400 a day employee and the fact is that's what we got. It was a mentality of....this is dangerous and I'm worth my pay........Something many oldtimers used to proudly carry!

I was offered a full time job from the locals. I asked the pay and was replyed $150 a day. As you can imagine I damned need threw up! After all I had started my cutting career in Montana in 87 and by 1990 the pay was already at $225 a day.

You can imagine my surprise to discover that the proud tradition of the West Coast Cutter in Northern Oregon had no pride at all and the pride of those men showed in how much they thought they were worth. It was a slap in the face and a discrace to the heritage of the proud oldtimers whom emulated Moral fiber and true grit! It actually made me proud to be a Montana cutter at the time because at least Montana Men!!!!! Demanded a cutters wage!

Well for many years I steered clear of the Oregon Coast and often times the Washington Coast as it appeared to me that the degraded mentality had also swept over into Washington.

Well....recently I've found myself having moved to the northern Oregon coast to be closer to family, buy property, and settle into one place to live. I've made my retirement so at this point Money really isn't an issue. I would however like to point out an issue I've discovered soon once again inspecting the Proud Tradition of the Oregon West Coast Cutter.

Apon arriving I made a good many phone calls as I love my life as a cutter and I am truely proud to be a part of the heritage.

It was both sad and sickening for me to learn that many Oregon West Coast Cutters still considers a man to be worth less than a Montana cutter of little skill was worth more than 20 years ago.

My question is.....Really? Is this seriously what you believe you are worth? The Oregon West Coast Cutter......where men of high skill carry chainsaws with long bars falling big timber with 4 fourties.

Montana, where men pack small saws cutting lodgepole that are 60 ft tall.

Which Man would you rather be? If it is true that the defining mark of a real Man is whether they stand or squat to piss.

I'd rather pack a little chainsaw and cut lodgepole.


Shod

Yes, do you know where I can sign up to cut on fires for the forest service? I have my numbers and am a sole proprietor

 

[madhatte]

I know @2dogs posted something a few weeks back, but I don't remember where.

 

[catbuster]

Yes, do you know where I can sign up to cut on fires for the forest service? I have my numbers and am a sole proprietor

It depends. In some areas you need S-130/190 period, maybe S-212 for felling and NIMS 100/200. In others hired guns just have a safety induction in the off season. You might want to give your local FD or branch of USFS a call and explain your experience and situation. They can probably help you in the door better than we can here. It’s not always easy to get in, but once you’re on the list you’re usually there for a long time, provided you do good work.

 

[ArtB]

Missed this thread 4 years ago... scanned thru it till I saw the OP outed .

Initial thoughts were the OP sure had some problem. Worth scanning the non- OP interesting comments from the real folks in the field that were worth reading .

 

[HumBurner]

edit: We aren't a logging crew, but a fuel reduction/thinning crew who also sometimes does hazard work around houses. No climber on crew, though we have someone we recommend and combine jobs with semi-frequently so the client gets the most bang for their buck.

I'm in SoHum. As a 10 year veteran swamper, I earn $26/hour before tax; started at $15/hour and worked my way up. As a sawyer, my rate varies. For friends, it's $20-$25/hour based on income. My rate is going up to $25-28/hour for friends in 2020; again based on income/age, and $30/hour for non-friends. That's working 7-10 hour days depending on the amount of daylight and weather, and sometimes involves upwards of 3 hours of driving roundtrip on some of the worst paved and rock/dirt roads you can imagine. When doing sidejobs, it's usually just me, so cutting, swamping, burning, staging, bucking, etc.

I have no certifications or official paperwork, not licensed, bonded, or insured. Just lots of experience and watching/learning from fallers with 40+ years of experience ranging from basic thinning/falling to wildland hazard tree removal. I've also had the pleasure of learning what NOT to do from an ex-landlord who I have no idea how he survived cutting trees for 30 years (just firewood, but 5-8 cords per year) with some of the things he's done.

I supply all my own gear, aside from the tools the boss-man has (like grip hoist, cables, etc.)

I barely get by on what I make as it is, but for the kind of work we do, we're already garnering higher pay than some in our area. Good days i can make $250-300. Typical days are $175-200, both pre-tax. Many of my clients feel I undervalue my labor and are generous with bonuses/tips and food/produce or other goodies. I was recently promoted to sawyer on our crew, and hopefully after we finish our current job there will be a pay-raise.