What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Tree Trimmers and Pruners in the U.S. earn more than $50,960 a year — the middle 80% land between $37,940 and $80,310. About 55,160 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Tree Trimmers and Pruners”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Elementary occupations earn about ₹11,530 a month on average — around ₹1.4 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$50,960typical pay / year
55,160people in this work
$80,310+top 10% earn
₹1.4 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Analysing6
Feed limbs and brush into machines
+Feed cut branches and brush into the chipper, keep the infeed steady and hands clear, watch for jams and stop…
Feed limbs and brush into machines
+Feed cut branches and brush into the chipper, keep the infeed steady and hands clear, watch for jams and stop the machine immediately if resistance rises, log machine hours and any faults in the shift log when finished.
The tools that do the workjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Use climbing and rigging techniques
+Inspect the planned climb route on the oak by Gate 3, don full helmet, harness and lanyards, rig a redundant…
Use climbing and rigging techniques
+Inspect the planned climb route on the oak by Gate 3, don full helmet, harness and lanyards, rig a redundant anchor per the climbing diagram, ascend with a haul system and lower the arborist bag to access the crown safely.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Inspect trees for diseases or pests
+Walk the south boulevard run, don protective gear, survey each maple and ash for cankers, borers, thinning…
Inspect trees for diseases or pests
+Walk the south boulevard run, don protective gear, survey each maple and ash for cankers, borers, thinning canopy or sticky residue, photograph symptomatic trees, record species and GPS and flag any trees needing lab samples or treatments.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Cut away dead or excess branches
+Prune the deadwood from the elm at Lot B, put on chaps and eye protection, make three-cut removals to avoid…
Cut away dead or excess branches
+Prune the deadwood from the elm at Lot B, put on chaps and eye protection, make three-cut removals to avoid bark tear, lower removed limbs with the rope-guided sling to the ground crew, and leave a clean collar at each wound.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment.
+At the shop, inspect each saw and pruner, clean blades, sharpen to factory edge, grease pivot points and…
Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment.
+At the shop, inspect each saw and pruner, clean blades, sharpen to factory edge, grease pivot points and chains, replace worn guards, run a function test and log maintenance date and any parts ordered.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Trim branches near utility lines
+Trim back branches encroaching the 12 kV line on Elm Street, wear insulating gloves and a hard hat, set up a…
Trim branches near utility lines
+Trim back branches encroaching the 12 kV line on Elm Street, wear insulating gloves and a hard hat, set up a hot-work exclusion and two-man watch, cut in controlled sections using pole saws, and leave clearances per the utility drawing.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsWikipedia
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The daily work14
Apply insecticidal or fungicidal treatments
+Apply the scheduled insecticide and fungicide to the north oak block today, confirm label rates and PPE are…
Apply insecticidal or fungicidal treatments
+Apply the scheduled insecticide and fungicide to the north oak block today, confirm label rates and PPE are followed, test the sprayer on a spare tree to verify output, log treated trees and any observations in the treatment record before leaving.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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Prune or treat trees and shrubs
+Prune the hazardous limbs from the elm row along Cherry Lane this morning, follow the pruning specs in the…
Prune or treat trees and shrubs
+Prune the hazardous limbs from the elm row along Cherry Lane this morning, follow the pruning specs in the maintenance manual, wear full lanyard and cut-resistant gloves, chip removed material and note any structural defects on the tree inspection sheet before signing off.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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Stack and haul debris
+Stack and haul the storm debris from Lot B to the designated disposal area, separate logs, branches and green…
Stack and haul debris
+Stack and haul the storm debris from Lot B to the designated disposal area, separate logs, branches and green waste per site plan, secure the load, record cubic meters hauled on the debris log and photograph any contaminated loads for the supervisor.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsWikipedia
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Clear sites, streets, and grounds of woody and herbaceous materials, such as tree stumps and fallen trees and limbs.
+Clear fallen trees and stumps from the west service road, grind or remove stumps per the restoration…
Clear sites, streets, and grounds of woody and herbaceous materials, such as tree stumps and fallen trees and limbs.
+Clear fallen trees and stumps from the west service road, grind or remove stumps per the restoration blueprint, keep the road open for emergency vehicles, collect safety check signatures and update the site clearance checklist when complete.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Remove broken limbs from wires, using hooked extension poles.
+Remove the broken limb tangled in the overhead line on Pine Street using the hooked extension pole, ensure…
Remove broken limbs from wires, using hooked extension poles.
+Remove the broken limb tangled in the overhead line on Pine Street using the hooked extension pole, ensure line crew has de-energized the span and wear insulated gloves and face shield, photograph the cut and note time and crew on the incident log.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Water, root-feed, and fertilize trees.
+Water and root-feed the young maples on Ridge Drive this afternoon to the prescribed depth, measure soil…
Water, root-feed, and fertilize trees.
+Water and root-feed the young maples on Ridge Drive this afternoon to the prescribed depth, measure soil moisture before and after, apply fertilizer at the specified rate from the technical sheet, and record volumes and moisture readings in the tree care ledger.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Set up safety barriers around work area
+Mark and install physical safety barriers around the ash tree treatment zone on the north access path, put up…
Set up safety barriers around work area
+Mark and install physical safety barriers around the ash tree treatment zone on the north access path, put up warning signs, lock the gate, verify barrier integrity against the site drawing, and confirm PPE stations are stocked before work starts at 08:00 tomorrow.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordWikipedia
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Communicate with team members about work progress
+Send a short update to the maintenance crew and arboriculture team listing today’s completed inspections,…
Communicate with team members about work progress
+Send a short update to the maintenance crew and arboriculture team listing today’s completed inspections, remaining tasks on the east plot, who is assigned to each task, and any safety issues that will affect tomorrow’s start time.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookWikipedia
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Scrape decayed matter from cavities in trees and fill holes with cement to promote healing and to prevent further deterioration.
+Remove all decayed tissue from the cavity in the maple at 1426 Elm Street until solid wood is reached,…
Scrape decayed matter from cavities in trees and fill holes with cement to promote healing and to prevent further deterioration.
+Remove all decayed tissue from the cavity in the maple at 1426 Elm Street until solid wood is reached, disinfect the cavity, then pack and finish with cement paste shaped to shed water so the wound can begin to callus over by next inspection on Tuesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Split logs or wooden blocks into bolts, pickets, posts, or stakes, using hand tools such as ax wedges, sledgehammers, and mallets.
+Split the oak rounds at the yard into eight-inch bolts and four-foot stakes using wedges, sledge and mallet,…
Split logs or wooden blocks into bolts, pickets, posts, or stakes, using hand tools such as ax wedges, sledgehammers, and mallets.
+Split the oak rounds at the yard into eight-inch bolts and four-foot stakes using wedges, sledge and mallet, keep pieces straight-grained for posts, record dimensions and defects on the log sheet before stacking for seasoning.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Set up and inspect rigging hardware
+Install and inspect the rigging on the blue work tree: fit splicing thimbles, check shackles and slings for…
Set up and inspect rigging hardware
+Install and inspect the rigging on the blue work tree: fit splicing thimbles, check shackles and slings for wear, test each anchor to 1.5 tonnes and log serial numbers and inspection results on the rigging checklist before use.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
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Advise clients on pruning and tree care
+Visit the client at 78 Birch Lane, assess the sugar maple canopy, recommend crown reduction and timed…
Advise clients on pruning and tree care
+Visit the client at 78 Birch Lane, assess the sugar maple canopy, recommend crown reduction and timed pruning, write a one-page care plan explaining risks, timing and costs and leave it with the homeowner today.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
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Perform site cleanup and replanting
+Clear the planting bed at the north entrance, remove roots and debris, grade to the planting plan, install…
Perform site cleanup and replanting
+Clear the planting bed at the north entrance, remove roots and debris, grade to the planting plan, install three new 2-inch caliper saplings with soil amendments and mulch, then photograph and note locations for the maintenance schedule.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Apply treatments to promote healthy growth
+Apply the prescribed foliar feed and systemic treatment to the row of elms at the cemetery: mix the solution…
Apply treatments to promote healthy growth
+Apply the prescribed foliar feed and systemic treatment to the row of elms at the cemetery: mix the solution per the tech sheet, treat each tree at the labeled drip line, record batch, rates and weather conditions on the treatment log.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordWikipedia
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Says who?
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses