20 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You usually start by checking the day’s schedule in Microsoft Outlook or a paper manifest, then drive to the job site. Once there you set up safety barriers, inspect trees for disease or pests, and plan rigging and climbing routes.
Most of the day is hands-on: climbing, rigging, pruning, feeding limbs and brush into wood-chippers, stacking and hauling debris, and cleaning or sharpening tools. You communicate progress with team members and the client, then finish with site cleanup and any replanting.
Yes. Many crews use Microsoft Outlook for scheduling and emails, Microsoft Word for reports or client estimates, and Microsoft Excel for tracking jobs, hours, and inventory. Larger companies may keep digital crew sheets in Excel.
You don’t need advanced IT skills, but you should be comfortable opening emails, filling simple Excel columns (date, address, crew hours), and saving Word documents for permits or client notes.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 55,160 employed arborists and related workers in 2025. The median annual pay was $50,960. The lowest tenth earned $37,940 and the top tenth earned $80,310.
Pay varies by region, employer, and certification. Municipal work, utility contracts, or large commercial outfits often pay more than small residential crews.
A landscaper focuses on lawns, beds, planting, and hardscaping; a tree trimmer often does basic trimming. An arborist inspects tree health, diagnoses disease or pests, performs technical climbing and rigging, and applies treatments like insecticides and fertilizers.
Arborists do complex tasks such as setting up rigging hardware, filling cavities to halt decay, and advising clients on long-term tree care—work a general trimmer usually won’t handle.
Yes, but carefully. Use apps or phone photos to document tree defects, plan cuts, and share progress with your team via Outlook or photo messages. GPS and mapping apps can help locate jobs and track hours in Excel sheets.
Don’t rely on AI for safety-critical decisions like rigging loads or choosing cut sequences. Those require hands-on experience and supervisor judgment. Use AI only for notes, checklists, or cross-checking disease IDs, then confirm with a human expert.
Physical fitness, comfort with heights, and basic tool skills: chainsaw use, climbing, and rope rigging. Also learn to inspect trees for pests and diseases and to prune correctly to promote healthy growth.
Soft skills matter: clear communication with team members, setting up safety barriers, and advising clients on pruning or treatments. Basic Excel and Outlook skills help you track work and send daily reports.