How to become a log scaler and quality controller
Official title: Log scaler and quality controller
Also called: Log assessor, Log scaler, Quality controller, Timber measurer, Log grader, Grader
Log scalers and quality controllers inspect logs for defects and measure, record and track logs to check their value, quantity and location.
Main tasks
- Inspect logs for quality
- Measure logs
- Grade logs
- Mark logs for identification
- Record and track logs
- Direct log handling and transport
- Communicate with forestry workers
- Drive vehicles around worksites
How to become one
You usually train on the job to become a log scaler and quality controller and experience and a qualification may be useful. You usually don't need specific NCEA levels for this job, but NCEA Level 2 may be useful. Required: to be over 16 years old. Other requirements: experience in similar work; a New Zealand Certificate in Forest Harvesting Operations (Level 3); to do an apprenticeship in forestry; a New Zealand Certificate in Forest Harvesting Operations (Level 4); a relevant tertiary qualification in forestry studies or similar area; a driver licence.
Ways in
- Certificates and diplomas: Entry certificates in forestry. TEC links this job to study in forestry studies. Qualifications: NZ Cert in Forest Industry Foundation Skills, NZ Cert in Forest Harvesting Operations, NZ Cert in Forestry Operations. Usually 5 to 8 months. Graduates of these qualifications earn a median $47,000 a year one year after study and $55,000 five years after; 53% are employed one year after (TEC, from Stats NZ IDI data).
Pay · Past change
- Most common pay: $55,000 to $80,000 a year (median $68,000), a TEC estimate before tax.
- Upper: $104,000 a year
- TEC's pay figures are estimates only. TEC says they must not be used to set pay, in pay negotiations or in visa applications.
- Change in the number of people doing this job between the 2018 and 2023 Censuses: Steady (TEC). This is past change, not a forecast.
Who does this work
- About 33 people did this job at the 2023 Census (TEC).
Related jobs
- Viticulturist
- Forest manager
- Grounds maintenance supervisor
- Gardener and groundskeeper
- Pesticide handler
- Forestry equipment operator
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Questions people ask
How do I become a log scaler and quality controller?
You usually train on the job to become a log scaler and quality controller and experience and a qualification may be useful. You usually don't need specific NCEA levels for this job, but NCEA Level 2 may be useful. Required: to be over 16 years old. Other requirements: experience in similar work; a New Zealand Certificate in Forest Harvesting Operations (Level 3); to do an apprenticeship in forestry; a New Zealand Certificate in Forest Harvesting Operations (Level 4); a relevant tertiary qualification in forestry studies or similar area; a driver licence.
How much does a log scaler and quality controller earn in New Zealand?
The Tertiary Education Commission estimates median pay at $68,000 a year, before tax. Most common pay is $55,000 to $80,000 a year.
Has the number of people working as a log scaler and quality controller grown in New Zealand?
It has held steady: TEC records the number of people doing this job as steady between the 2018 and 2023 Censuses. This is past change, not a forecast.
Sources
- Tertiary Education Commission (Tahatu Career Navigator): Tahatu career ideas: descriptions, tasks, pay estimates, people employed, employment change 2018 to 2023, entry requirements, registration, interest scores (Site scrape 2026-10 (816 career ideas, sitemap lastmod 2026-10-01)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
This content is sourced from the Tertiary Education Commission through the Tahatū Career Navigator website (www.tahatu.govt.nz) and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. All or some of the information has been modified by Peernovo. TEC has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. TEC will not be held accountable for any errors within this content.
Qualification information from NZQA, used under CC BY 3.0 NZ.
This work is based on/includes Stats NZ's data which are licensed by Stats NZ for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. Census data via Figure.NZ.
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Sources: Tertiary Education Commission, Tahatū Career Navigator (career ideas, pay estimates, entry requirements and study options, CC BY 4.0, modified by Peernovo); Stats NZ, 2023 Census (via Figure.NZ) and the National Occupation List (CC BY 4.0); NZQA qualification information (CC BY 3.0 NZ); O*NET interest scores (CC BY 4.0); ILO global generative AI exposure index (CC BY 4.0). Links between career ideas and ANZSCO groups, degree fields and broad job groups are Peernovo's.
These results are not official statistics. They have been created for research purposes from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), which is carefully managed by Stats NZ.
Graduate outcomes: these results are not official statistics. They have been created for research purposes from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), which is carefully managed by Stats NZ.
Updated 4 October 2026