Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Arborist
- Groundsman
- Tree Climber
- Tree Trimmer
Alternate Job Titles
- Arborist
- Brush Clearing Laborer
- Bucket Operator
- Bucket Truck Operator
- Climber
- Climber Trimmer
- Climbing Arborist
- Diagnostician
- Grape Pruner
- Grounds Worker
- Groundsman
- Groundsperson
- Laborer
- Line Clearance Trimmer
- Line Clearing Tree Trimmer
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Operation and Control
- Operations Monitoring
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Control Precision
- Multilimb Coordination
- Manual Dexterity
- Reaction Time
- Problem Sensitivity
- Static Strength
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Extent Flexibility
- Oral Comprehension
- Trunk Strength
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Cautiousness
- Dependability
- Perseverance
- Stress Tolerance
- Attention to Detail
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Support
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Less than a High School Diploma
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Agricultural augers
- Boom trucks
- Brush chippers
- Brush trucks
- Bucket trucks
- Bypass pruners
- Cargo trailers
- Chemical mixers
- Chipper shredders
- Chipper trucks
- Climbing hooks
- Cordless power saws
- Dump trucks
- Felling wedges
- Garden shovels
Work Environment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Frequency of Decision Making
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $37,660 |
| Median | $50,430 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $78,900 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 47,870
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Fallers
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $53,900
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $38,090
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $45,200
Forest and Conservation Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $43,680
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $35,690
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.