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 job list in Microsoft Outlook or a paper schedule, then inspect each tree on site for disease, pests, dead branches, or safety hazards. Expect a mix of climbing trees, rigging large limbs, pruning, and applying treatments like insecticides or fungicides.
Afternoons often mean feeding limbs into chipper machines, stacking and hauling debris, cleaning and sharpening tools, and writing short reports or invoices in Microsoft Word or Excel before you leave. You’ll also set safety barriers and communicate progress with your crew during the day.
You’ll use climbing gear (ropes, harnesses), chainsaws, chippers, rigging hardware, hand tools (axes, wedges), and hooked poles for wires. You also inspect and maintain tools: sharpen, lubricate, and check rigging hardware before work.
On the office side, you’ll use Microsoft Outlook for scheduling and communication, Microsoft Word for estimates and reports, and Microsoft Excel to track hours, materials, and invoices. Knowing basic Excel formulas helps with simple cost sheets.
Begin with a basic arboriculture or horticulture course at a community college, an apprenticeship, or on-the-job training with a local tree service. Learn climbing and rigging techniques, chainsaw safety, and how to identify common tree diseases and pests.
Get certifications like the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) or local equivalents when you can. Practical experience—working under an experienced climber and learning to set up safety barriers and use rigging hardware—is essential.
Always set up safety barriers to keep the public clear, inspect rigging hardware before each lift, and use proper personal protective equipment: helmet, eye and ear protection, gloves, and chainsaw chaps. Never work on lines near utilities without a qualified utility crew.
Check trees for decay or cavities and plan removals so falling limbs won’t hit people or property. Communicate clearly with your team about lifts and cuts. If a limb is near power lines, stop and call the utility company—don’t attempt it yourself unless you are qualified and cleared.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, 2025), there were 55,160 tree surgeon jobs (SOC 37-3013.00). The median annual wage was $50,960. The lowest tenth earned about $37,940 and the top tenth about $80,310 per year.
Pay varies with experience, certifications, location, and whether you work for a company or run your own business. Overtime, emergency work, or utility-related jobs can raise earnings.
They overlap but differ. Tree surgeons (arborists) focus on the health, pruning, treatment, and safe removal of individual trees—inspecting for disease, applying insecticidal or fungicidal treatments, and advising clients on care.
Landscapers handle lawns, planting, and broad garden design. Loggers cut trees for timber on remote sites and focus on harvesting, not tree health. Tree surgeons use climbing and rigging techniques and often work in urban settings near utilities and buildings.
Good tree surgeons read trees: they can spot decay, cavities, pest signs, and structural problems during a quick inspection, then choose the right pruning or treatment. They also rig safely—selecting anchor points, inspecting hardware, and planning drop zones.
On the hands-on side, strong chainsaw control, efficient limb feeding into chippers, clean tool maintenance (sharpening, lubrication), and clear team communication make work faster and safer. Basic Excel and Word skills help with estimates and job records.