What You Need to Know About Tree Trimmer or Pruner
Example of Tree Trimmer or Pruner Job 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.
Tree Trimmer or Pruner Responsibilities
- Split logs or wooden blocks into bolts, pickets, posts, or stakes, using hand tools such as ax wedges, sledgehammers, and mallets.
- Harvest tanbark by cutting rings and slits in bark and stripping bark from trees, using spuds or axes.
- Cut away dead and excess branches from trees, or clear branches around power lines, using climbing equipment or buckets of extended truck booms, or chainsaws, hooks, handsaws, shears, and clippers.
- Transplant and remove trees and shrubs, and prepare trees for moving.
- Install lightning protection on trees.
- Plan and develop budgets for tree work, and estimate the monetary value of trees.
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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.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Types of Tree Trimmer or Pruner Jobs
- Vine Pruner
- Plant Health Care Technician
- Arborist
- Tree Trimmer Helper
- Tanbark Laborer
Are There 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 7,500 job openings in this field each 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.
Salary for a Tree Trimmer or Pruner
The salary for Tree Trimmers and Pruners ranges between about $24,330 and $61,310 a year.

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 do I Become a Tree Trimmer or Pruner?
What education is needed to be a Tree Trimmer or Pruner?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Tree Trimmers and Pruners Work

Below are examples of industries where Tree Trimmers and Pruners work:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Tree Trimmer or Pruner may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Tree Trimmer or Pruner sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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