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.
Fixing2
Feed limbs and brush into machines
+Feed cut limbs and brush into the chipper in a steady, controlled flow, feed butt ends first, keep hands and…
Feed limbs and brush into machines
+Feed cut limbs and brush into the chipper in a steady, controlled flow, feed butt ends first, keep hands and tools clear of the throat, stop and clear jams per the safety checklist, and record chip volume for the load ticket.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Cut away dead or excess branches
+Remove all dead and excess limbs from the oak at 12 Maple Street, cut back to healthy growth collars, lower…
Cut away dead or excess branches
+Remove all dead and excess limbs from the oak at 12 Maple Street, cut back to healthy growth collars, lower large limbs by controlled rope descent, leave safe 3m clearance from the footpath, haul timber to the rear of the property today.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Move2
Use climbing and rigging techniques
+Set up climbing lines and rigging for the oak at 17 Birch Road, install two independent anchors, run the…
Use climbing and rigging techniques
+Set up climbing lines and rigging for the oak at 17 Birch Road, install two independent anchors, run the lowering line with a friction control, communicate hand signals with the ground crew, and log rope and hardware inspections before ascent.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Trim branches near utility lines
+Prune the maple at 5 High Street to create a safe working corridor around the conductors, cut no closer than…
Trim branches near utility lines
+Prune the maple at 5 High Street to create a safe working corridor around the conductors, cut no closer than 1.5 metres to live cables, use insulated poles and rope techniques, notify the householder and leave a written safety note.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Analysing1
Inspect trees for diseases or pests
+Inspect the street elms for dieback and borers, take canopy photos, sample suspicious lesions per the…
Inspect trees for diseases or pests
+Inspect the street elms for dieback and borers, take canopy photos, sample suspicious lesions per the diagnostic sheet, note GPS locations and severity, and draft a short treatment recommendation for the property owner.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Protecting1
Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment.
+Strip down the chainsaw, clean and sharpen the chain and guide bar, grease all fittings, replace any damaged…
Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment.
+Strip down the chainsaw, clean and sharpen the chain and guide bar, grease all fittings, replace any damaged ties, test-run the machine and log service details in the workshop record before returning the tool to the van.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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The daily work14
Apply insecticidal or fungicidal treatments
+Apply the recommended insecticidal and fungicidal spray to the oak on Maple Avenue, follow the label rates…
Apply insecticidal or fungicidal treatments
+Apply the recommended insecticidal and fungicidal spray to the oak on Maple Avenue, follow the label rates and re-entry times, record batch numbers and weather conditions, and photograph the treated canopy and trunk afterwards.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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Prune or treat trees and shrubs
+Prune dead and rubbing branches from the linden at 42 High Street to the crown reduction specified on the…
Prune or treat trees and shrubs
+Prune dead and rubbing branches from the linden at 42 High Street to the crown reduction specified on the site plan, follow pruning wound protocols, collect one photo before and after, and note any decay for follow-up.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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Stack and haul debris
+Stack cut limbs by species and size at the rear of the property, load chipper-safe material first, haul…
Stack and haul debris
+Stack cut limbs by species and size at the rear of the property, load chipper-safe material first, haul chippings and oversized logs to the yard by 4pm, and log volumes and trailer registrations in the site log.
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 the south verge and plaza of all fallen limbs, stumps and undergrowth, grind stumps flush where…
Clear sites, streets, and grounds of woody and herbaceous materials, such as tree stumps and fallen trees and limbs.
+Clear the south verge and plaza of all fallen limbs, stumps and undergrowth, grind stumps flush where specified on the plan, sweep the pavement, and leave the site tidy with photos and a client sign-off.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Remove broken limbs from wires, using hooked extension poles.
+Remove broken limbs tangled in the low wire over Elm Road using a hooked extension pole from the pavement,…
Remove broken limbs from wires, using hooked extension poles.
+Remove broken limbs tangled in the low wire over Elm Road using a hooked extension pole from the pavement, secure the zone with cones, cut and lower sections safely, and notify the utility contact if wires show damage.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookO*NET
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Water, root-feed, and fertilize trees.
+Water and root-feed the new plane tree on Birch Crescent with 50 litres slow-release solution per the…
Water, root-feed, and fertilize trees.
+Water and root-feed the new plane tree on Birch Crescent with 50 litres slow-release solution per the manufacturer, apply granular fertilizer in the root zone, note soil moisture and next feed date, and photograph the root collar.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Set up safety barriers around work area
+Set up high-visibility safety barriers and warning signs around the oak at 142 Linton Road, enclosing a 6m…
Set up safety barriers around work area
+Set up high-visibility safety barriers and warning signs around the oak at 142 Linton Road, enclosing a 6m drop and chainsaw exclusion zone, run a quick handover with site supervisor and photograph the completed barrier before starting work.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordWikipedia
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Communicate with team members about work progress
+Tell the crew on site the plan for today: finish crown reduction on the oak at 142 Linton Road, two-man lift…
Communicate with team members about work progress
+Tell the crew on site the plan for today: finish crown reduction on the oak at 142 Linton Road, two-man lift on the heavy limb at 10:30, expect 30 minutes clearance after each cut, and report any equipment faults to Sam immediately.
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.
+Scrape out the rotten tissue from the cavity at the south side of the maple on 12 Oak Street, disinfect the…
Scrape decayed matter from cavities in trees and fill holes with cement to promote healing and to prevent further deterioration.
+Scrape out the rotten tissue from the cavity at the south side of the maple on 12 Oak Street, disinfect the cavity, pack with non-shrink tree cement to the original contour, and tack a breathable cover so water sheds while wood re-forms over six months.
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 harvested oak rounds at the yard into eight-inch bolts for fence posts and four-inch pickets using…
Split logs or wooden blocks into bolts, pickets, posts, or stakes, using hand tools such as ax wedges, sledgehammers, and mallets.
+Split the harvested oak rounds at the yard into eight-inch bolts for fence posts and four-inch pickets using wedges and a sledge, mark stock by length and grain direction, and stack off the ground for air-drying three months.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Set up and inspect rigging hardware
+Inspect the quarter-inch steel slings, shackles, eye bolts and the temporary anchor on the west ash, replace…
Set up and inspect rigging hardware
+Inspect the quarter-inch steel slings, shackles, eye bolts and the temporary anchor on the west ash, replace any hardware with visible wear, run a load test at two tonnes, and document torque and inspection marks before starting the lift.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
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Advise clients on pruning and tree care
+Walk the client around their garden, point out three major codominant stems and one bark crack, recommend…
Advise clients on pruning and tree care
+Walk the client around their garden, point out three major codominant stems and one bark crack, recommend crown reduction by 20 percent, a 12–18 month pruning plan, and email the written care plan with risks and costs.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Perform site cleanup and replanting
+Clear the site of all timber debris, chip branches into a 6-inch mulch pile, level the disturbed soil, plant…
Perform site cleanup and replanting
+Clear the site of all timber debris, chip branches into a 6-inch mulch pile, level the disturbed soil, plant two 2.5cm caliper saplings in prepared holes with mycorrhizal starter, and stake and water them to establishment schedule.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Apply treatments to promote healthy growth
+Apply a systemic insecticide and a balanced slow-release feed to the stressed lime on Park Lane, inject at…
Apply treatments to promote healthy growth
+Apply a systemic insecticide and a balanced slow-release feed to the stressed lime on Park Lane, inject at the recommended dose per trunk diameter, note weather and soil moisture, and set a six-month follow-up to assess leaf flush.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordWikipedia
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Says who?
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Activities this job lives in
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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