Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Tree trimmers and pruners build careers focused on maintaining and improving trees and related vegetation. Nationally, this occupation employs about 60,000 people, with a typical entry point of a high school diploma or equivalent. The role draws on a blend of physical strength and stamina, fine motor skills, and mechanical ability, along with being detail oriented. It also benefits from skills in science, problem solving and decision making, leadership, interpersonal communication, customer service, and creativity and innovation. The national median annual salary of $50,430 positions this as a viable option for people who enjoy physically active work and using both technical and people skills. Projected employment growth of 3.3% and approximately 7,000 annual openings suggest ongoing opportunities for new entrants and experienced workers. Career paths can be shaped by geography, with some states and metro areas offering higher median salaries and stronger overall opportunity scores for tree trimmers and pruners.
Tree trimmers and pruners earn a national median annual salary of $50,430, with pay varying significantly by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $51,390 in Colorado to $63,850 in Washington. California and Massachusetts both report median salaries of $62,550, while New York is close behind at $62,400. At the metro level, salary variation is even more pronounced. The San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA metro has a median salary of $75,980, the highest among the listed areas, followed by San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA at $63,630 and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH at $62,780. Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA offers $60,440, and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV comes in at $51,700. These differences show that location decisions can meaningfully affect earning potential for tree trimmers and pruners.
Tree trimmers and pruners have a national employment base of about 60,000 workers and are projected to grow by 3.3%. This projected growth indicates that employment in this field is expected to expand rather than contract. In addition to growth, the occupation is expected to see about 7,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect a combination of new positions created by growth and positions that become available as people change jobs or leave the workforce. The combination of a measurable employment base, a positive projected growth rate, and a steady flow of annual openings suggests that individuals entering or advancing in this career can expect ongoing movement in the job market. Geographic areas listed with opportunity scores also share the same 3.3% projected growth rate, providing consistency across several of the strongest states and metro areas for this occupation.
Location choices play a significant role in the opportunity profile for tree trimmers and pruners. Among states, California leads in employment with 9,610 positions and offers a median salary of $62,550 and an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York show similar median salaries—$62,550 and $62,400 respectively—with opportunity scores just above 65, while employing fewer workers than California. Washington offers the highest listed state-level median salary at $63,850 but with 700 employed, and Colorado shows a median salary of $51,390 and employment of 1,200. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA stands out with an opportunity score of 77.42, a median salary of $63,630, and employment of 650. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA combines a high median salary of $75,980 with 990 employed. Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA has the largest metro employment among the listed areas at 3,150, with a median salary of $60,440, providing a different balance of scale and pay.
Tree trimmers and pruners typically enter the field with a high school diploma or equivalent, making this a pathway that does not require a college degree for most roles. Success in the occupation relies on a mix of physical, technical, and interpersonal skills. Core physical demands are reflected in the need for physical strength and stamina and fine motor skills. Mechanical ability also plays an important role. Being detail oriented supports accuracy and safety, while science knowledge can contribute to understanding the conditions affecting trees and vegetation. Problem solving and decision making, leadership, and interpersonal skills help workers handle situational challenges and coordinate with others. Customer service skills are valuable for interacting with clients, and creativity and innovation can support finding effective approaches to the work. Together, this combination of education level and skill requirements makes the occupation accessible while still demanding a broad, practical skill set.
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