Chain saw and skidder operators

Chain saw and skidder operators

NOC
84110

use chain saws to fell, delimb and cut trees to length, and operate skidders to move felled trees to landing areas for processing and transportation.

Quick facts

3-Year Outlook

Moderate
Moderate

3-Year Job Openings

63
 

Median Hourly Wage

$20.00
$16.00
Low
$27.77
High

Average Salary

$30,800
 

Typically Required

High school / on-the-job training

Employed

332
 
Job details

Full NOC Description

Chain saw and skidder operators operate chain saws to fell, delimb and buck trees, and operate skidders to move or yard the felled trees from the logging site to the landing area for processing and transportation. They are employed by logging companies and contractors.

Main Duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:
 

  • Operate chain saw to fell, delimb and buck trees at the logging site and loading area
  • Operate cable, or grapple skidder to move or yard the felled trees from the logging site to the landing area for processing and transportation
  • Assess site, terrain and weather conditions before felling and yarding trees
  • May work as member of a team rotating between chain saw operation and skidder operation
  • May maintain and perform minor repairs on skidders, chain saws and other equipment.

Also Known As

  • bucker
  • chain saw operator - logging
  • faller
  • feller
  • forest worker - logging
  • grapple skidder operator
  • landingman/woman
  • pieceworker - logging
  • skidder operator
Requirements

Employment Requirements

  • Completion of secondary school may be required.
  • Completion of a college program for forest workers may be required.
  • Formal training in chain saw operation and maintenance and several months of on-the-job training are usually provided.
  • Previous experience as a logging and forestry labourer or logging machine operator may be required. Experience requirements vary depending on the type and location of woodlands operations.
  • Provincial certification or a forest worker program certificate is required in some provinces.
  • Trade certification for fallers is available, but voluntary in Quebec.
  • Workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) and first aid certificates may be required.

Provincial Regulation

Not Provincially Regulated

Employment by Sex

The following graph shows the percentage of men and women working in this occupation in New Brunswick.

Data legend

1.7%
Female
98.3%
Male
Employment by age

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by age group.

Data legend

12.1%
15-24
17.2%
25-34
12.1%
35-44
19.0%
45-54
27.6%
55-64
12.1%
65+
Employment by highest level of education

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by highest level of education achieved.

Data legend

36.8%
No Certificate, Diploma or Degree
47.4%
High School, Diploma or Equivalent
8.8%
Apprenticeship or Trades Certificate or Diploma
7.0%
College or University Below Bachelor Level
0.0%
University - Bachelor Level or Above
Employment by Industry

The following graph shows the industry groups in which the largest shares of persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick are employed. Small percentages for all top three industry groups may suggest employment for this occupation is widely distributed amongst many industry groups.

Data legend

72.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
10.3%
Manufacturing
N/A
N/A
17.2%
All Other Industries
Employment by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons employed in this occupation in New Brunswick by which economic region they reside in.

Data legend

29.80%
Northeast
15.80%
Southeast
21.10%
Southwest
10.50%
Central
22.80%
Northwest
Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

Economic Regions

The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

Annual Average Salary by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the average salary of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

No Data Available

Data legend

No Data Available
Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

Economic Regions

The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

Hourly Median Wages by Economic Regions

The following represents the median hourly wage of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

Northeast

$21.00
$16.00
Low
$29.00
High
No Data Available
No Data Available
No Data Available

Northwest

$20.00
$17.00
Low
$25.00
High
Salary

The following shows the average salary of everyone who worked full-time and year-round in this occupation across each of the Atlantic Provinces and nationally.

New Brunswick

$30,800

Newfoundland

N/A

Prince Edward Island

N/A

Nova Scotia

$30,000

Canada

$51,750
Employment Outlook

The following represents the number of job openings that are expected to occur in this occupation over the next three and ten years respectively, broken down by openings expected to result from growth (“new jobs”) and openings expected to result from attrition (death and retirements).

Three Year Outlook

Total Openings: 3-Year

63
 

New Jobs: 3-Year

26
 

Retirements/Deaths: 3-Year

38
 

Ten Year Outlook

Total Openings: 10-Year

96
 

New Jobs: 10-Year

-16
 

Retirements/Deaths: 10-Year

111