Logging Equipment Operators
The short answer
This job is less likely to change much. Most of the work is the kind AI can't help with. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to shrink over the next decade, with about 147 openings expected each year.
Where your job stands
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second least exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. Most of what it involves isn't the kind of work AI can take over.
How much AI could touch this job
Looking at the job itself, AI could help with a small part of this job's tasks.
What this means
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second least exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.
What AI can and can’t help with in this job
This job is in the second least exposed fifth of New York jobs for AI exposure. The tasks below show why: most of what it involves is work AI can't simply take over.
AI can help with or automate about 22% of the tasks in this job.
Tasks AI can help with or automate
Fill out required job or shift report forms.
AI could do much of this on its own
Calculate total board feet, cordage, or other wood measurement units, using conversion tables.
AI could do much of this on its own
Tasks AI can't do much of
Inspect equipment for safety prior to use, and perform necessary basic maintenance tasks.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Control hydraulic tractors equipped with tree clamps and booms to lift, swing, and bunch sheared trees.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Grade logs according to characteristics such as knot size and straightness, and according to established industry or company standards.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Drive and maneuver tractors and tree harvesters to shear the tops off of trees, cut and limb the trees, and cut the logs into desired lengths.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Drive straight or articulated tractors equipped with accessories such as bulldozer blades, grapples, logging arches, cable winches, and crane booms to skid, load, unload, or stack logs, pull stumps, or clear brush.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Jobs you could switch to
If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.
See related jobs in
The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Very similar work+70% pay1,580 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 70% more—$83,178 vs your $48,833 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Control Precision
- Operation and Control
- Mechanical
- Multilimb Coordination
- Reaction Time
New skills to build
- English Language
- Mathematics
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
Very similar work+22% pay113 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 22% more—$59,699 vs your $48,833 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of experience, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Control Precision
- Reaction Time
- Multilimb Coordination
- Operation and Control
- Depth Perception
New skills to build
- Building and Construction
- Speed of Limb Movement
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
Similar work+3% pay1,632 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 3% more—$50,099 vs your $48,833 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Control Precision
- Multilimb Coordination
- Depth Perception
- Far Vision
- Response Orientation
New skills to build
- Mathematics
- English Language
Crane and Tower Operators
Similar work+80% pay131 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 80% more—$87,725 vs your $48,833 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of experience, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Control Precision
- Mechanical
- Multilimb Coordination
- Reaction Time
- Operation and Control
New skills to build
- Mathematics
- Building and Construction
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
Similar work+40% pay431 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 40% more—$68,183 vs your $48,833 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus long-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Mechanical
- Control Precision
- Multilimb Coordination
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
New skills to build
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Extent Flexibility
- Repairing
- Customer and Personal Service
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
Similar work+28% pay50 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 28% more—$62,512 vs your $48,833 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of experience, plus long-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Control Precision
- Mechanical
- Operation and Control
- Reaction Time
- Multilimb Coordination
New skills to build
- Design
- Mathematics
- Law and Government
- Engineering and Technology
- Transportation
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
Somewhat similar workslightly less pay116 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays slightly less—$44,721 vs your $48,833 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Reaction Time
- Control Precision
- Operations Monitoring
- Mechanical
- Operation and Control
New skills to build
- Mathematics
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Somewhat similar work+18% pay35 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 18% more—$57,855 vs your $48,833 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Mechanical
- Operations Monitoring
- Production and Processing
- Control Precision
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
New skills to build
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Engineering and Technology
- Education and Training
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
Somewhat similar work+48% pay2,106 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 48% more—$72,078 vs your $48,833 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus long-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Mechanical
- Control Precision
- Multilimb Coordination
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Operations Monitoring
New skills to build
- Education and Training
- Transportation
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Chemistry