Occupation · SOC 37-3013
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.
Median wage
$50,430
$37,660–$78,900
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
47,870
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
9 mapped
Core skills
Operation and ControlOperations MonitoringCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingMonitoringSpeakingCoordinationInstructing
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceMechanical
Technology & tools
Web page creation and editing softwareSpreadsheet softwareElectronic mail softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
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.Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment.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.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.Inspect trees to determine if they have diseases or pest problems.Load debris and refuse onto trucks and haul it away for disposal.Provide information to the public regarding trees, such as advice on tree care.Trim jagged stumps, using saws or pruning shears.Clear sites, streets, and grounds of woody and herbaceous materials, such as tree stumps and fallen trees and limbs.Collect debris and refuse from tree trimming and removal operations into piles, using shovels, rakes, or other tools.Cable, brace, tie, bolt, stake, and guy trees and branches to provide support.Plan and develop budgets for tree work, and estimate the monetary value of trees.Prune, cut down, fertilize, and spray trees as directed by tree surgeons.Remove broken limbs from wires, using hooked extension poles.Water, root-feed, and fertilize trees.Scrape decayed matter from cavities in trees and fill holes with cement to promote healing and to prevent further deterioration.Spray trees to treat diseased or unhealthy trees, including mixing chemicals and calibrating spray equipment.Apply tar or other protective substances to cut surfaces or seal surfaces and to protect them from fungi and insects.Transplant and remove trees and shrubs, and prepare trees for moving.Split logs or wooden blocks into bolts, pickets, posts, or stakes, using hand tools such as ax wedges, sledgehammers, and mallets.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Shredding and chipping equipment — feed limbs and brush into machines under direct supervisor oversight at a residential or commercial job site.Hand tools including handsaws, clippers, and shears — identify, select, and pass to crew members during ground-level trimming operations.Climbing hooks, belts, and ladders — don and adjust correctly under supervision before gaining access to low-height work areas.Dead and low-hanging branches — recognize and flag for removal while assisting experienced trimmers on routine residential jobs.Ropes and block-and-tackle systems — assist in hoisting tools and lowering cut branches to the ground under crew direction.Chainsaws and power saws — observe safe startup, shutdown, and handling procedures during on-the-job orientation.Tool and equipment cleaning procedures — perform basic cleaning and lubrication of hand tools at the end of each shift following a written checklist.Personal protective equipment — select and wear appropriate PPE including hard hats, gloves, and eye protection before entering any work zone.Verbal instructions from crew leads — receive, confirm understanding of, and carry out ground-crew tasks on active trimming sites.Job site hazards — identify and report obvious ground-level dangers such as uneven terrain, traffic, and falling debris during supervised operations.
developing
Brush chippers and stump chippers — operate and monitor equipment performance during routine residential and light commercial clearing jobs with minimal oversight.Climbing hooks, belts, and boom truck buckets — use routinely to access mid-height canopy work areas and complete assigned trimming tasks independently.Dead, excess, and low-hanging branches — cut away using chainsaws, hooks, and clippers while managing body position and balance in the tree.Tree shape and aesthetics — apply pruning techniques to trim, top, and reshape ornamental trees according to crew lead specifications.Boom trucks, tractors, and power sprayers — operate across a range of standard job types, adjusting controls to match terrain and workload conditions.Tool maintenance schedule — sharpen saw blades, replace worn parts, and lubricate equipment independently after each job cycle.Rope and rigging systems — rig, tension, and lower branches safely during multi-person trimming operations in suburban environments.Branch clearance around power lines — execute line-clearance cuts following utility right-of-way protocols under general crew supervision.Job progress and equipment condition — monitor throughout the workday and communicate anomalies to the crew lead before problems escalate.Crew communication on active sites — relay clear, concise verbal instructions to ground workers while working at elevation in noisy environments.
proficient
Full suite of tree trimming equipment including boom trucks, loaders, and power saws — operate across residential, commercial, and utility right-of-way sites without requiring oversight.Complex canopy work including topping, deadwooding, and crown reduction — plan and execute on mature or structurally compromised trees using sound arboricultural judgment.Power line clearance operations — manage safe branch removal around energized conductors in accordance with applicable utility and safety standards.Non-routine tree conditions such as storm damage, disease, or structural failure — assess, develop a removal or remediation approach, and execute safely.Shredding, chipping, and stump-grinding equipment — troubleshoot mechanical irregularities and perform field-level adjustments to restore operation mid-job.Rigging, ropes, and block-and-tackle systems — configure advanced lowering setups for large or awkward sections in confined urban or suburban spaces.Tool and equipment maintenance program — oversee sharpening, lubrication, and parts replacement schedules across the crew's full tool inventory.Customer and site-specific requirements — interpret work orders, communicate scope and timeline clearly with property owners, and adapt trimming approach to client expectations.Job site safety monitoring — continuously evaluate fall, struck-by, and electrical hazards and apply corrective controls before proceeding with work.New crew members — demonstrate correct climbing technique, equipment operation, and pruning standards through hands-on instruction during live job assignments.
advanced
Crew supervision and field training program — lead multiple trimming crews across concurrent job sites, coaching lower-level employees in safe and efficient arboricultural practices.Organizational safety standards — establish, update, and enforce site safety protocols for climbing, rigging, and power line clearance operations company-wide.Equipment fleet including boom trucks, brush chippers, and stump grinders — direct maintenance scheduling, procurement decisions, and replacement planning to sustain operational readiness.Complex job scoping and bidding — assess site conditions, tree health, and access constraints to develop accurate proposals for large commercial or municipal contracts.Power line clearance compliance framework — interpret and apply utility industry regulations and right-of-way guidelines across all crew operations and client agreements.Workforce development strategy — design structured on-the-job learning pathways and credentialing plans that advance employees from entry-level ground crew to certified climbers.Cross-functional coordination — collaborate with municipal planners, utility representatives, and property managers to schedule and execute large-scale urban tree management programs.Operational efficiency and quality standards — monitor crew productivity metrics and trimming outcomes, introducing process improvements that reduce cost and rework across the organization.Incident investigation and corrective action — lead post-incident reviews following equipment failures or near-miss events and implement systemic controls to prevent recurrence.Customer and stakeholder relationships — represent the organization authoritatively in client consultations and community engagement settings, translating technical arboricultural judgment into accessible guidance.
Also known as
35 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
GroundsmanClimbing ArboristPlant Health Care TechnicianTrimmerGrape PrunerGroundspersonLaborer, TanbarkTree TrimmerBucket Truck OperatorClimber TrimmerTree WorkerPrunerVine PrunerBrush Clearing LaborerGrounds WorkerTree ExpertLaborerBarracks and Grounds Marine (Marine Corps 8911)Timber CutterBucket OperatorSales ArboristLine Clearance TrimmerClimberArboristTree SpecialistLaborer, Brush ClearingTree PrunerTree DoctorTanbark LaborerDiagnosticianLine Clearing Tree TrimmerTree ClimberUtility ArboristTree-Trimmer HelperTree Surgeon