Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Typical education: Less than a High School Diploma
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.
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.
Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment.
Hoist tools and equipment to tree trimmers, and lower branches with ropes or block and tackle.
Top skills:Operation and ControlOperations MonitoringCritical ThinkingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingSpeaking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Tree Trimmers and Pruners pay by experience level
Entry level$39,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$46,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$52,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$66,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$83,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+3.3%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
7,400
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Tree Trimmers and Pruners salary by industry
Administrative and Support Services
50,030 workers
$57,000
Services to Buildings and Dwellings
49,520 workers
$57,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
2,880 workers
$68,500
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
2,650 workers
$68,500
Utilities
1,040 workers
$67,500
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution
1,040 workers
$67,000
Employment Services
450 workers
$49,000
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
260 workers
$65,500
Utility System Construction
210 workers
$66,000
Specialty Trade Contractors
190 workers
$60,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
