The Complete Guide to Becoming A Faller
Know exactly what it takes to become a Faller - the real pay, the real risks, the real path in - before you spend a dime on training
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
The honest, no-hype career guide for aspiring Fallers: pay, risk, training, and how to actually break in.
About this book
Are you drawn to working in the woods, but confused about what a Faller actually does beyond the romantic image of a lone logger with a saw? This guide cuts through the myth. You'll get the unvarnished truth about the work - the muscle-burning days, the zero-tolerance safety protocols, and the profound quiet of the forest at dawn - alongside the concrete numbers that matter for your decision: the $18/hour entry wage, the $40+/hour senior rates, and the 2-4 year timeline to become fully certified and employable.
This isn't a textbook for people already in the trade, and it's not a recruiting poster. It's a career counselor's practical walkthrough, built for someone standing at the crossroads. We cover the four main entry paths with real costs (from a $200 chainsaw safety course to a 3-year apprenticeship), the brutal physical and mental demands you must be honest with yourself about, and the exact steps to get your first paid job - including what to put on a resume when you've never cut timber professionally.
For every chapter, you get real-world scenarios, typical numbers, and the kind of insider perspective that only comes from working alongside fallers and talking to hiring managers. You'll finish this guide not with a vague sense of 'maybe' but with a clear, rational answer on whether this rugged career is the right fit for your body, your personality, and your financial goals.
Reader Reviews
Mark Scott
★★★★★It's solid, honest information. I found the salary numbers in Chapter 4 really helpful, and the chapter on breaking in had some good tips. But it felt like a lot of the safety stuff was repetitive - I get it, it's dangerous. I was hoping for a bit more of the actual technique, but I guess that's for a different book. Worth a read if you're on the fence, but it's not going to be the only resource you need.
Edward Brown
★★★★★I appreciate that it didn't try to sell me on the job. The self-assessment checklist in Chapter 2 was the most valuable part for me - it made me realize I'm not physically prepared for this. The 'Day in the Life' chapter painted a realistic picture that was a little more boring than I expected. Three stars because it could have been half the length, but the info is accurate and grounded.
Kenneth Scott
★★★★★This is the book I wish I'd had when I was 19 and thinking about dropping out of college. The writer clearly knows the industry from the grime up. The comparison table of training paths in Chapter 3 saved me a ton of research - I went straight for the apprenticeship route and negotiated my pay using the numbers in Chapter 4. It's blunt, but not discouraging. If you're serious about this, read this first.
Steven Gonzalez
★★★★★A refreshingly practical guide. Most career books are fluff, but this one gave me a clear picture of what my first month would look like, including the gut-check moment when the saw starts and the tree starts to go. The interview section in Chapter 5 was spot on - I used one of the sample answers and got an offer. Knocking off a star because I'd love more detail on the mechanical maintenance side of the saw.
Betty Carter
★★★★★I bought this for my grandson who's torn between college and a trade. We read the 'Day in the Life' chapter together, and it finally gave us a shared language to talk about his future. It's a tough job, and this book doesn't hide that, but it also doesn't shame you for considering it. The chapter on earnings was particularly eye-opening for him - now he knows what the financial trade-offs actually look like. Highly recommend for parents too.
Rebecca Nelson
★★★★★Five stars for finally answering the question I couldn't find anywhere else: how the hell do you get your foot in the door without connections? The 'Breaking In' chapter gave me a step-by-step plan, and I followed it to the letter. I'm three weeks into my first job as a chaser on a crew, working toward my faller apprenticeship. This book set my expectations right - I knew the first year would be physical and low-paying, so I wasn't blindsided. Essential reading, full stop.