How much does a tree trimmer and pruner make?
The median tree trimmer and pruner in the United States earns $50,960 per year, about $24.50 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all tree trimmers and pruners earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 37-3013.
Tree trimmer and pruner salary range
Pay for tree trimmers and pruners spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $37,940 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $80,310. The average (mean) wage of $55,970 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,940 | $18.24 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $44,840 | $21.56 | |
| Median (50th) | $50,960 | $24.50 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $63,900 | $30.72 | |
| 90th percentile | $80,310 | $38.61 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for tree trimmers and pruners (SOC 37-3013), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Tree trimmer and pruner salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Tree trimmers and pruners earn the most in Minnesota at $77,460 a year, and the least in Nebraska at $39,380. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $77,460 | N/A |
| Oregon | $75,440 | 1,610 |
| New Jersey | $71,940 | N/A |
| Illinois | $64,450 | 700 |
| Washington | $63,850 | 700 |
| California | $62,550 | 9,610 |
| Massachusetts | $62,550 | 2,090 |
| New York | $62,400 | 3,750 |
| Vermont | $62,170 | 430 |
| Missouri | $61,140 | 970 |
| Rhode Island | $61,040 | 110 |
| New Hampshire | $59,660 | 330 |
| Montana | $59,580 | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,200 | 3,160 |
| Wisconsin | $57,930 | 1,190 |
| Michigan | $57,550 | 1,840 |
| Hawaii | $56,990 | 170 |
| Utah | $56,890 | 200 |
| Colorado | $51,390 | 1,200 |
| Nevada | $51,210 | 190 |
| Arizona | $50,680 | N/A |
| South Dakota | $50,430 | 270 |
| Ohio | $49,650 | 1,460 |
| Delaware | $49,330 | N/A |
| West Virginia | $49,140 | 1,420 |
| Connecticut | $48,930 | 360 |
| Virginia | $48,550 | 1,070 |
| North Carolina | $48,480 | 1,560 |
| Kansas | $48,400 | 390 |
| Louisiana | $47,350 | 120 |
| Tennessee | $47,350 | 710 |
| New Mexico | $47,330 | N/A |
| Maryland | $47,210 | 730 |
| Oklahoma | $46,950 | 860 |
| Georgia | $46,910 | 1,030 |
| Maine | $46,430 | N/A |
| Wyoming | $46,210 | N/A |
| Florida | $46,070 | 2,770 |
| Indiana | $46,050 | 1,850 |
| Arkansas | $45,650 | 290 |
| North Dakota | $44,820 | N/A |
| Kentucky | $44,410 | 1,020 |
| Idaho | $43,840 | N/A |
| South Carolina | $43,660 | 430 |
| Iowa | $42,890 | 380 |
| Mississippi | $41,560 | 260 |
| Alabama | $41,500 | 890 |
| Texas | $39,880 | 4,460 |
| Nebraska | $39,380 | N/A |
State median wages for tree trimmers and pruners (SOC 37-3013), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for tree trimmers and pruners
The BLS projects employment of tree trimmers and pruners to grow 4.2% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 70,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 73,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 7,900 openings a year for tree trimmers and pruners. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a tree trimmer and pruner
The typical entry-level education for tree trimmers and pruners is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a tree trimmer and pruner earns
Employer, region, shift, and whether the role is supervisory account for most of the pay spread. Government and large institutional employers often pay above small private contractors.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Minnesota, $77,460) and the lowest (Nebraska, $39,380) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 55,160 people work as tree trimmers and pruners in the United States. At $50,960 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Tree trimmer and pruner salary FAQ
How much does a tree trimmer and pruner make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a tree trimmer and pruner is $24.50. The middle half of tree trimmers and pruners earn between $21.56 and $30.72 per hour.
What is the highest tree trimmer and pruner salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of tree trimmers and pruners earn more than $80,310 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a tree trimmer and pruner make a year?
The median annual salary for a tree trimmer and pruner is $50,960. The average (mean) wage of $55,970 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a tree trimmer and pruner a well paid job?
At $50,960 a year, a tree trimmer and pruner earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 55,160 people work as tree trimmers and pruners in the United States.
Which state pays tree trimmers and pruners the most?
Minnesota has the highest median salary for tree trimmers and pruners at $77,460 a year. Oregon ($75,440) and New Jersey ($71,940) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a tree trimmer and pruner a good career?
Employment of tree trimmers and pruners is projected to grow 4.2% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 7,900 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a tree trimmer and pruner?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for tree trimmers and pruners as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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