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Career Exploration

Fallers

Also called: Logger, Timber Cutter, Timber Faller, Tree Faller

What they do:

Use axes or chainsaws to fell trees using knowledge of tree characteristics and cutting techniques to control direction of fall and minimize tree damage.

On the job, you would:
  • Stop saw engines, pull cutting bars from cuts, and run to safety as tree falls.
  • Appraise trees for certain characteristics, such as twist, rot, and heavy limb growth, and gauge amount and direction of lean, to determine how to control the direction of a tree's fall with the least damage.
  • Saw back-cuts, leaving sufficient sound wood to control direction of fall.
On the job, you'll need:

Engineering and Technology

  • mechanical

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods

  • manufacture and distribution of products

Basic Skills

  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Reaction Time and Speed

  • quickly move your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command
  • quickly move your arms and legs

Controlled Movement

  • use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down
  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat

Endurance

  • exercise for a long time without getting out of breath

Hand and Finger Use

  • hold or move items with your hands

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Integrity
  • Self Control
  • Concern for Others

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Geographic information system

  • ESRI ArcView
  • Geographic information system GIS systems

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Below Average.

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $49,160

Education

No high school diploma/GED or high school diploma/GED is usually needed.