- O*NET-SOC code
- 45-4021.00
Use axes or chainsaws to fell trees using knowledge of tree characteristics and cutting techniques to control direction of fall and minimize tree damage.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.12
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only19 rated tasks · 1 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (5.3%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 2 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Assess logs after cutting to ensure that the quality and length are correct.O*NET Task ID 13489 | 0.5 |
Stop saw engines, pull cutting bars from cuts, and run to safety as tree falls.O*NET Task ID 13484 | 0.0 |
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.O*NET Task ID 13485 | 0.0 |
Saw back-cuts, leaving sufficient sound wood to control direction of fall.O*NET Task ID 13486 | 0.0 |
Clear brush from work areas and escape routes, and cut saplings and other trees from direction of falls, using axes, chainsaws, or bulldozers.O*NET Task ID 13487 | 0.0 |
Measure felled trees and cut them into specified log lengths, using chain saws and axes.O*NET Task ID 13488 | 0.0 |
Determine position, direction, and depth of cuts to be made, and placement of wedges or jacks.O*NET Task ID 13490 | 0.0 |
Control the direction of a tree's fall by scoring cutting lines with axes, sawing undercuts along scored lines with chainsaws, knocking slabs from cuts with single-bit axes, and driving wedges.O*NET Task ID 13491 | 0.0 |
Trim off the tops and limbs of trees, using chainsaws, delimbers, or axes.O*NET Task ID 13492 | 0.0 |
Select trees to be cut down, assessing factors such as site, terrain, and weather conditions before beginning work.O*NET Task ID 13493 | 0.0 |
Maintain and repair chainsaws and other equipment, cleaning, oiling, and greasing equipment, and sharpening equipment properly.O*NET Task ID 13494 | 0.0 |
Insert jacks or drive wedges behind saws to prevent binding of saws and to start trees falling.O*NET Task ID 13495 | 0.0 |
Tag unsafe trees with high-visibility ribbons.O*NET Task ID 13496 | 0.0 |
Secure steel cables or chains to logs for dragging by tractors or for pulling by cable yarding systems.O*NET Task ID 13497 | 0.0 |
Load logs or wood onto trucks, trailers, or railroad cars, by hand or using loaders or winches.O*NET Task ID 13498 | 0.0 |
Mark logs for identification.O*NET Task ID 13499 | 0.0 |
Work as a member of a team, rotating between chain saw operation and skidder operation.O*NET Task ID 13500 | 0.0 |
Place supporting limbs or poles under felled trees to avoid splitting undersides, and to prevent logs from rolling.O*NET Task ID 13501 | 0.0 |
Split logs, using axes, wedges, and mauls, and stack wood in ricks or cord lots.O*NET Task ID 13502 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (17)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Stop saw engines, pull cutting bars from cuts, and run to safety as tree falls. | Core |
| 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. | Core |
| Saw back-cuts, leaving sufficient sound wood to control direction of fall. | Core |
| Clear brush from work areas and escape routes, and cut saplings and other trees from direction of falls, using axes, chainsaws, or bulldozers. | Core |
| Measure felled trees and cut them into specified log lengths, using chain saws and axes. | Core |
| Assess logs after cutting to ensure that the quality and length are correct. | Core |
| Determine position, direction, and depth of cuts to be made, and placement of wedges or jacks. | Core |
| Control the direction of a tree's fall by scoring cutting lines with axes, sawing undercuts along scored lines with chainsaws, knocking slabs from cuts with single-bit axes, and driving wedges. | Core |
| Trim off the tops and limbs of trees, using chainsaws, delimbers, or axes. | Core |
| Select trees to be cut down, assessing factors such as site, terrain, and weather conditions before beginning work. | Core |
| Maintain and repair chainsaws and other equipment, cleaning, oiling, and greasing equipment, and sharpening equipment properly. | Core |
| Insert jacks or drive wedges behind saws to prevent binding of saws and to start trees falling. | Core |
| Tag unsafe trees with high-visibility ribbons. | Core |
| Secure steel cables or chains to logs for dragging by tractors or for pulling by cable yarding systems. | Supplemental |
| Mark logs for identification. | Supplemental |
| Work as a member of a team, rotating between chain saw operation and skidder operation. | Supplemental |
| Place supporting limbs or poles under felled trees to avoid splitting undersides, and to prevent logs from rolling. | Supplemental |
0.48/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Stop saw engines, pull cutting bars from cuts, and run to safety as tree falls. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| 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. | E0 none |
| Saw back-cuts, leaving sufficient sound wood to control direction of fall. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clear brush from work areas and escape routes, and cut saplings and other trees from direction of falls, using axes, chainsaws, or bulldozers. | E0 none |
| Measure felled trees and cut them into specified log lengths, using chain saws and axes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Assess logs after cutting to ensure that the quality and length are correct. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Control the direction of a tree's fall by scoring cutting lines with axes, sawing undercuts along scored lines with chainsaws, knocking slabs from cuts with single-bit axes, and driving wedges. | E0 none |
| Trim off the tops and limbs of trees, using chainsaws, delimbers, or axes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Maintain and repair chainsaws and other equipment, cleaning, oiling, and greasing equipment, and sharpening equipment properly. | E0 none |
| Insert jacks or drive wedges behind saws to prevent binding of saws and to start trees falling. | E0 none |
| Tag unsafe trees with high-visibility ribbons. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Secure steel cables or chains to logs for dragging by tractors or for pulling by cable yarding systems. | E0 none |
| Load logs or wood onto trucks, trailers, or railroad cars, by hand or using loaders or winches. | E2 structured facilities |
| Mark logs for identification. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Work as a member of a team, rotating between chain saw operation and skidder operation. | E0 none |
| Place supporting limbs or poles under felled trees to avoid splitting undersides, and to prevent logs from rolling. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 4K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 4K
- Change (2025–35)
- -9.9%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $52,100
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62012 | 벌목원 | Same scope | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 6210Forestry and Related Workers
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- crosscut saw operatorESCO 8172.2Overlapping, not the same
Crosscut saw operators use a manual crosscut saw. Crosscut sawing is used for 'felling' and 'bucking' trees, or taking off the limbs to obtain logs. Crosscut sawyers may also work with smaller crosscut saws in a workshop to make manual cuts.
- forestry equipment operatorESCO 8341.1Overlapping, not the same
Forestry equipment operators carry out operations with specialised equipment in the forest to maintain, harvest, extract and forward wood for the manufacturing of consumer goods and industrial products.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| A1201 | Bûcheron / Bûcheronne | Same scopeprovisional |
| A1102 | Conducteur / Conductrice d'engins d'exploitation forestière | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 9543 | Peones forestales y de la caza | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 6410 | Trabajadores cualificados en actividades forestales y del medio natural | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 11711 | Berufe in der Forstwirtschaft - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 11712 | Berufe in der Forstwirtschaft - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 472 | 伐木・造材・集材従事者 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources