Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Tree Trimmers and Pruners
Tree Trimmers and Pruners 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.
Table of contents
What they do
Tree Trimmers and Pruners 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.
- Operate shredding and chipping equipment, and feed limbs and brush into the machines.
- Operate boom trucks, loaders, stump chippers, brush chippers, tractors, power saws, trucks, sprayers, and other equipment and tools.
- Cutaway 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.
- Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Tree Trimmers and Pruners clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment. They operate shredding and chipping equipment and feed limbs and brush into the machines.
A typical day for a Tree Trimmer and Pruner will also include:
- Hoist tools and equipment to tree trimmers, and lower branches with ropes or block and tackle.
- Collect debris and refuse from tree trimming and removal operations into piles, using shovels, rakes, or other tools.
- Trim jagged stumps, using saws or pruning shears.
- Load debris and refuse onto trucks and haul it away for disposal.
- Inspect trees to determine if they have diseases or pest problems.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Tree Trimmers and Pruners also apply tar or other protective substances to cut surfaces or seal surfaces and to protect them from fungi and insects. They may also cable, brace, tie, bolt, stake, and guy trees and branches to provide support.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Tree Trimmers and Pruners split logs or wooden blocks into bolts, pickets, posts, or stakes, using hand tools such as ax wedges, sledgehammers, and mallets. They might also climb trees, using climbing hooks and belts, or climb ladders to gain access to work areas.
In addition, they water, root-feed, and fertilize trees.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them remove broken limbs from wires, using hooked extension poles.
To some Tree Trimmers and Pruners, it is also their responsibility to supervise others engaged in tree trimming work and train lower-level employees.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
75% said they were satisfied with their job and 59% said they found their job meaningful.
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Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Tree Trimmers and Pruners with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $27,510 to $33,390 per year or $13 to $16 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $64,520 | $31 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $52,520 | $25 |
| Median | $41,340 | $20 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $33,390 | $16 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $27,510 | $13 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Tree Trimmers and Pruners based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $69780 | $33.55 |
| Federal Executive Branch | $60580 | $29.13 |
| Local Government | $55710 | $26.78 |
| State Government | $53670 | $25.80 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $47600 | $22.89 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $47030 | $22.61 |
| Logging | $44390 | $21.34 |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | $43280 | $20.81 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $41800 | $20.10 |
| Employment Services | $40960 | $19.69 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Tree Trimmers and Pruners work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Tree Trimmers and Pruners including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | 45930 | $43280 | $20.81 |
| Local Government | 2390 | $55710 | $26.78 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 810 | $47030 | $22.61 |
| Utility System Construction | 180 | $ | $* |
| State Government | 160 | $53670 | $25.80 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 120 | $47600 | $22.89 |
| Federal Executive Branch | 70 | $60580 | $29.13 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | 30 | $69780 | $33.55 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | 30 | $40800 | $19.62 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $41800 | $20.10 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
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Telephone
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Group discussions
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Public speaking
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Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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