Tree Trimmers and Pruners Career, Salary and Skills
Tree Trimmers and Pruners have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $50,960 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 55,160. Wage data is published for 194 locations.
Occupation 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.
O*NET code
37-3013.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
Less than a High School Diploma
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$50,960
Hourly median
$24.50
Employment
55,160
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.75 | 3.12 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.62 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.12 | 2.75 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Instructing | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Equipment Selection | 2.88 | 2.12 |
| Active Listening | 2.88 | 2.62 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Climb trees, using climbing hooks and belts, or climb ladders to gain access to work areas.
- Supervise others engaged in tree trimming work and train lower-level employees.
- Trim, top, and reshape trees to achieve attractive shapes or to remove low-hanging branches.
- Operate shredding and chipping equipment, and feed limbs and brush into the machines.
Technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Tree Trimmers and Pruners salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners Salary in CAMedian $62,550 · Employment 9,610
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners Salary in TXMedian $39,880 · Employment 4,460
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners Salary in NYMedian $62,400 · Employment 3,750
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners Salary in PAMedian $58,200 · Employment 3,160
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $60,440 · Employment 3,150
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners Salary in FLMedian $46,070 · Employment 2,770
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners Salary in Houston, TXMedian $39,660 · Employment 2,120
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners Salary in MAMedian $62,550 · Employment 2,090
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners Salary in INMedian $46,050 · Employment 1,850
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners Salary in MIMedian $57,550 · Employment 1,840
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners Salary in ORMedian $75,440 · Employment 1,610
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners Salary in Philadelphia, PAMedian $62,940 · Employment 1,580
Related careers
- Forest and Conservation TechniciansNational median $54,560
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNational median $40,240
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, HandNational median $42,660
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersNational median $50,060
- RiggersNational median $62,640
- Roustabouts, Oil and GasNational median $46,960
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingNational median $43,380
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodNational median $42,770
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.