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What is a Tree Trimmer or Pruner?
Career Description Using sophisticated climbing and rigging techniques, cut away dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs to maintain right-of-way for roads, sidewalks, or utilities, or to improve appearance, health, and value of tree. Prune or treat trees or shrubs using handsaws, hand pruners, clippers, and power pruners. Works off the ground in the tree canopy and may use truck-mounted lifts.
List of Tree Trimmer or Pruner Job Duties
- Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment.
- Remove broken limbs from wires, using hooked extension poles.
- Operate boom trucks, loaders, stump chippers, brush chippers, tractors, power saws, trucks, sprayers, and other equipment and tools.
- Spray trees to treat diseased or unhealthy trees, including mixing chemicals and calibrating spray equipment.
- Water, root-feed, and fertilize trees.
- Supervise others engaged in tree trimming work and train lower-level employees.
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Tree Trimmer or Pruner Skills
When polled, Tree Trimmers and Pruners say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Related Job Titles
- Ground Worker
- Tree Expert
- Groundsperson
- Tree Pruner
- Pruner
Job Opportunities for Tree Trimmers and Pruners
In the United States, there were 54,500 jobs for Tree Trimmer or Pruner in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 6,400 new jobs for Tree Trimmer or Pruner by 2026. There will be an estimated 7,500 positions for Tree Trimmer or Pruner per year.
The states with the most job growth for Tree Trimmer or Pruner are Washington, Florida, and New York. Watch out if you plan on working in Montana, Idaho, or Delaware. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Tree Trimmer or Pruner Salary
The average yearly salary of a Tree Trimmer or Pruner ranges between $24,330 and $61,310.
Tree Trimmers and Pruners who work in District of Columbia, Washington, or Minnesota, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Tree Trimmers and Pruners in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $42,020 |
| Alaska | $49,970 |
| Arizona | $40,890 |
| Arkansas | $33,420 |
| California | $48,010 |
| Colorado | $34,080 |
| Connecticut | $42,410 |
| Delaware | $44,530 |
| District of Columbia | $60,290 |
| Florida | $30,150 |
| Georgia | $30,020 |
| Hawaii | $48,470 |
| Idaho | $42,890 |
| Illinois | $49,990 |
| Indiana | $37,750 |
| Iowa | $40,920 |
| Kansas | $41,400 |
| Kentucky | $35,230 |
| Louisiana | $37,790 |
| Maine | $36,630 |
| Maryland | $47,120 |
| Massachusetts | $46,580 |
| Michigan | $37,450 |
| Minnesota | $53,820 |
| Mississippi | $42,940 |
| Missouri | $43,040 |
| Montana | $48,240 |
| Nebraska | $35,090 |
| Nevada | $35,960 |
| New Hampshire | $41,710 |
| New Jersey | $48,990 |
| New Mexico | $40,220 |
| New York | $52,170 |
| North Carolina | $34,830 |
| North Dakota | $42,690 |
| Ohio | $39,860 |
| Oklahoma | $30,810 |
| Oregon | $45,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,530 |
| Rhode Island | $42,280 |
| South Carolina | $31,830 |
| South Dakota | $37,480 |
| Tennessee | $35,390 |
| Texas | $32,630 |
| Utah | $35,480 |
| Vermont | $39,560 |
| Virginia | $42,190 |
| Washington | $55,860 |
| West Virginia | $34,270 |
| Wisconsin | $36,640 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Tree Trimmers and Pruners
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Tree Trimmers and Pruners:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Outlook
How to Become a Tree Trimmer or Pruner
Are there Tree Trimmers and Pruners education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Tree Trimmer or Pruner?
Where Tree Trimmers and Pruners Work
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Tree Trimmer or Pruner might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Tree Trimmer or Pruner in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.