Lumberjack is a mostly North American term for workers in the logging industry who perform the initial harvesting and transport of trees.
Tree trimmers and pruners, also called arborists, cut away dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs to clear utility lines, roads, and sidewalks. Many of these workers strive to improve the appearance and health of trees and plants, and some specialize in diagnosing and treating tree diseases.
These days, lumberjack sounds pretty old-fashioned — the same job is done today, but people who do it are typically called "loggers," and they use power tools like chain saws.
Referring to these forestry specialists as lumberjacks was more common in the 20th century, while the industry today typically calls these individuals "loggers".
The term lumberjill has been used for a woman lumberjack; for example, the Women's Timber Corps in Britain during World War II.
According to “Lumberjack Lingo” by L.G. Sorden & Jacque Vallier, a “Lumberjack” is one who worked in a logging operation. They were also known as “shanty man,” “timber beast,” and a “wood hick.” These included all who worked in the pineries, on the river or in the mill.
Most logging workers have a high school diploma. Most logging workers have a high school diploma. They get on-the-job training to become familiar with forest environments and to learn how to operate logging machinery.
Lumberjacks yell “Timber!” to alert others in the area when they're cutting down a tree. Timber is another word for a growing tree. After trees are cut down, they're often split into planks called lumber. The workers who cut down and transport trees are called lumberjacks.
In 1914, the larger-than-life comic character Paul Bunyan emerged as a symbol of the American spirit. This giant lumberjack, wielding his mighty axe and donning a red and black checkered shirt, embodied the ideals of strength, adventure, and the unyielding pursuit of dreams.
Arborists specialize in individual tree care, often in urban or suburban settings. Foresters use tree measurements, landowner goals, and knowledge of forests to develop plans to care for your woods over time. And loggers are the boots on the ground carrying out the plan you and your forester developed.
Large scale destruction of trees—deforestation—affects ecosystems, climate, and even increases risk for zoonotic diseases spreading to humans.
What Is The Demand For Arborists? The BLS estimates that there are currently about 11,300 arborists and foresters employed in the US. There will be about 3,000 job openings over the next decade for conservation scientists which includes foresters and arborists.
As of Jan 12, 2025, the average hourly pay for a Logger in California is $18.96 an hour. While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $34.84 and as low as $8.94, the majority of Logger salaries currently range between $12.71 (25th percentile) to $22.60 (75th percentile) in California.
As of Jan 30, 2025, the average hourly pay for a Lumberjack in the United States is $13.28 an hour. While ZipRecruiter is seeing hourly wages as high as $17.55 and as low as $9.62, the majority of Lumberjack wages currently range between $12.02 (25th percentile) to $13.94 (75th percentile) across the United States.
Most loggers work full-time at thirty-six to forty hours per week on average. Dangers of working in this profession include accidents related to rough terrain, falling trees and operating heavy equipment for cutting logs.
One of the greatest challenges for a forester is working with the public. Many people pursue a forestry career thinking that they will be able to hang out in the woods all day and not have to deal with people.
Common definitions of a lumberjill are a female lumberjack or a woman who works in the logging industry... felling trees, cutting timber, hauling logs, manufacturing firewood... There is actually a super cool history behind the term "Lumberjill"...
Lumberjacks yell “Timber!” to alert others in the area when they're cutting down a tree. Timber is another word for a growing tree.
informal humorous. /ˌlʌm.bɚˈsek.ʃu.əl/ uk. /ˌlʌm.bəˈsek.ʃu.əl/ Add to word list Add to word list. a man who lives in a city but has a beard and wears clothes, such as checked shirts, that are typically worn outside in the country by people such as lumberjacks (= people whose job is to cut down trees)