# Will log graders be replaced by AI? Updated October 2026 Log graders score 23 out of 100 for AI exposure. 55% of their task time needs a person. AI helps with the other 45%. - **45%** AI helps - **55%** Needs a person Low exposure Lower than 75% of the 923 jobs we scored. ## Task by task We graded 12 tasks, most exposed first. AI can't fully do any of them yet. It helps with 5 and leaves 7 to people. | Task | AI exposure | | --- | --- | | Record data about individual trees or load volumes into tally books or hand-held collection terminals. Software and voice tools can speed field data entry. | 55% AI helps | | Arrange for hauling of logs to appropriate mill sites. Scheduling and hauler messages can be software assisted. | 55% AI helps | | Measure felled logs or loads of pulpwood to calculate volume, weight, dimensions, and marketable value, using measuring devices and conversion tables. Calculations and conversions are software friendly; measuring stays physical. | 35% AI helps | | Identify logs of substandard or special grade so that they can be returned to shippers, regraded, recut, or transferred for other processing. Defect calls need inspection, paperwork and routing can be assisted. | 30% AI helps | | Weigh log trucks before and after unloading, and record load weights and supplier identities. Scale hardware weighs loads; software can handle ticket records. | 25% AI helps | ## How log graders compare All jobs (923) Farming, fishing and forestry (12) The dark line is **log graders, at 23**. Each dot is a score, and darker dots mean more jobs share it. The short marks are the averages, 37 for all jobs and 20 for farming, fishing and forestry. ## Pay and outlook in the US Median pay $46,330 a year, May 2025 People employed 3,070 in the US, May 2025 Projected change in jobs \-2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ## Skills to build - Grade logs in person against mill specifications - Calculate log volumes and values in Microsoft Excel - Identify water damage, splits, knots and rot manually - Record load weights and supplier tickets in SAP software - Flag substandard logs for regrading or return to shippers - Run Atterbury Consultants SuperACE/FLIPS for yard records ## Safer roles nearby 5 related jobs with lower scores. - [Agricultural graders22 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/agricultural-graders/) - [Logging equipment operators17 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/logging-equipment-operators/) - [Warehouse workers17 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/warehouse-workers/) - [Machine feeders20 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/machine-feeders/) - [Woodworking machine operators16 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/woodworking-machine-operators/) ## Questions about log graders and AI Will AI replace log graders? Partly. About 2 in 10 working hours of a log grader's day go to tasks AI can already do, mostly recording tree and load data into tally books and arranging log hauling to mill sites. Measuring, inspecting and grading stay with people because they need hands on work with real logs. Which log grader tasks is AI taking over? Recording tree and load data into tally books or hand-held terminals scores 55 on exposure, so software and voice tools can speed field entry. Arranging log hauling to mill sites also scores 55, because scheduling and hauler messages can be software assisted. Truck weight tickets score 25 and can move into software records. Which log grader tasks stay with people? Sawing felled trees into lengths scores 2 on exposure because chainsaw bucking is hands on and physically hazardous. Jabbing logs with scale sticks and inspecting for splits, knots and rot scores 8 because it is physical sensory work. Hand signals that direct log movement score 4 since they are live physical coordination. How can log graders stay valuable? Keep grading skill sharp, since in-person inspection of real logs holds grading at exposure 15. Use Microsoft Excel to check volume and conversion calculations against your field measurements. Enter weights and supplier details into SAP software or the AS/400 Database so ticket errors get caught early. Learn the Atterbury SuperACE/FLIPS system so you can work in the same records the yard uses. ## Related jobs - [Inventory checkers30 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/inventory-checkers/) - [Quality inspectors40 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/quality-inspectors/) - [Milling machine operators29 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/milling-machine-operators/) - [Cutting machine operators22 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cutting-machine-operators/) ## Next steps for log graders - ### Check your job Your job title is a rough guide. Your tasks decide your score. Paste your job description or CV to see which tasks AI can do. [Check your job](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-exposure-checker/) [Check your CV](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/cv-checker/) - ### Estimate team savings The score is per person. Add headcount and salary to see the hours AI can take on in a team of log graders, and what they cost. [Estimate what AI saves a team of log graders](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/team-ai-audit/?role=log-graders) [Work out the return on automation](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-savings-calculator/) ### Check which roles in your team AI can take on We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first. [Book an AI audit](https://www.aigentcy.com/audit/) ## Related topics - [**Jobs AI can't replace**Roustabouts score lowest, at 6.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-cant-replace/) - [**Jobs most at risk from AI**Proofreaders score highest, at 76.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-most-exposed-to-ai/) - [**High-paying jobs with low AI exposure**Pediatric surgeons earn a median $559,030 and score 29.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/high-paying-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Entry-level jobs with low AI exposure**Roustabouts need little prior training and score 6.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/entry-level-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Jobs AI speeds up the most**AI helps with 98% of the task time for health informatics specialists.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-speeds-up/) - [**AI and jobs in Malta**15 iGaming roles graded task by task.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/malta/) - [**Skills that keep work human**The skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/skills/) - [**Jobs A to Z**Every job we score, by first letter.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs/) - [**AI exposure by industry**Average scores for 22 job groups.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/industries/) - [**Write a CV screening software can read**How applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cv-screening-guide/) - [**AI for businesses**The tasks to automate first in each team and industry.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/) - [**How we score AI exposure**The grading, the weights and every source.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/) Sources and licences Occupation data from the O\*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and modified by Aigentcy. O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Wage, employment and projection data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EU occupation names from ESCO, European Commission. AI usage signals from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY) and Microsoft Research (CC BY 4.0). [Methodology and sources](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/). Scores © Aigentcy. Quote them with a link to the page.