How Much Do Tree Service Workers Make?
How much do tree service workers make? See current wage figures, pay ranges, job factors, skills, and what can affect earnings in tree care.
How much do tree service workers make?
The job, experience, skills, location, and type of tree work being performed determine the pay ranges.
A person starting as a ground worker may earn a different wage from an experienced tree climber who handles complex removals.
Pay can also change when a worker takes on more responsibility or learns specialized skills.
For someone researching a tree service O’Fallon MO company as a possible career path, looking only at an hourly number does not tell the whole story.
Tree service work can include pruning, tree removal, stump work, climbing, equipment operation, cleanup, and other tasks.
OSHA lists several of these activities as part of the tree care industry.
So, how much can workers earn?
Current government wage data gives us a useful starting point, while experience and job duties help explain why two workers in the same industry may receive very different pay.
How Much Do Tree Service Workers Make?
The closest official U.S. occupation is tree trimmers and pruners.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage was $24.50 in May 2025, while the median annual wage was $50,960.
The median means half of workers earned more and half earned less.
The reported wage range was:
- Lowest 10%: $18.24 per hour or less
- 25th percentile: $21.56 per hour
- Median: $24.50 per hour
- 75th percentile: $30.72 per hour
- Highest 10%: $38.61 per hour or more
These figures are national U.S. figures.
They should be used as a reference rather than a promise of what a particular employer will pay.
What Does a Tree Service Worker Do?
Tree service workers can perform very different jobs.
Depending on the company, a worker may:
- Cut and remove branches
- Prune trees
- Remove damaged or unwanted trees
- Operate a wood chipper
- Use chainsaws
- Climb trees
- Work from aerial lifts
- Move logs and branches
- Grind stumps
- Clean up job sites
- Help with rigging and lowering tree sections
OSHA lists pruning, removal, plant health care, cabling, bracing, transplanting, and other services within the tree care industry.
This range of work is one reason the answer to how much do tree service workers make can vary so much.
Does Experience Affect Tree Service Pay?
Experience can affect both the type of work a person can perform and the value they bring to a company.
A new worker may start with basic ground duties while learning equipment, job-site procedures, and tree-care practices.
With experience, a worker may move into roles involving:
- Tree climbing
- Advanced pruning
- Rigging
- Aerial lift operation
- Chainsaw work
- Crew leadership
- Job-site assessment
More responsibility can come with higher pay, although there is no single pay increase that applies to every employer.
Do Tree Climbers Make More Money?
Not automatically, but climbing skills can be valuable.
Tree climbing involves working at height while managing equipment, branches, ropes, and other hazards.
A skilled climber may be trusted with more complex work than someone who performs only ground duties.
OSHA identifies falls, falling objects, electrocution, and other hazards as serious concerns in tree care work.
Its safety guidance also emphasizes training, personal protective equipment, climbing equipment, and hazard assessment.
Because of this, specialized skills can influence a worker’s earning potential, but skill alone does not guarantee a particular wage.
What Skills Can Help a Tree Service Worker Earn More?
Workers who want to progress in the field can build skills that allow them to take on more demanding responsibilities.
Useful areas include:
Tree-care skills
- Proper pruning
- Tree identification
- Safe branch removal
- Understanding tree structure
Equipment skills
- Chainsaw operation
- Chipper operation
- Aerial lift operation
- Rigging equipment
Safety skills
- Hazard identification
- Fall protection
- Electrical hazard awareness
- Job-site communication
People skills
- Working well with a crew
- Following instructions
- Communicating with customers
- Leading other workers
OSHA’s tree-care safety program specifically identifies job skills, electrical hazards, PPE, climbing and rigging equipment, and crew briefings as important training areas.
Does Location Affect Tree Service Worker Pay?
Wages can differ between states, cities, and local labor markets.
The BLS provides national figures as well as wage data by geographic area.
For that reason, a worker researching tree removal O’Fallon MO should not assume that the national median is the exact wage offered by companies in that area.
Local demand, cost of living, competition for workers, business size, and the type of tree work commonly performed can all affect pay.
Are Tree Service Jobs Dangerous?
Tree care has real workplace risks, and that is an important part of understanding the job.
OSHA identifies hazards including:
- Falls from trees or equipment
- Falling branches
- Chainsaw injuries
- Electrical contact
- Injuries involving chippers and other equipment
OSHA recommends employer safety programs that include hazard assessment, training, PPE, and procedures for specific tree-care activities.
This means the wage should not be viewed separately from the skills, training, physical demands, and risks involved in the work.
Is Tree Service a Good Career for Someone Starting?
It can provide a path to develop practical skills without staying in the same role forever.
Someone might begin with basic groundwork and gradually learn equipment operation, pruning, climbing, or crew leadership.
Another person may prefer to specialize in a particular part of tree care.
The key is to look beyond the starting wage.
Consider:
- What training does the employer provide?
- What skills can you learn?
- Are there opportunities for advancement?
- What safety practices are in place?
- What benefits come with the job?
- How does the local wage compare with other work you could do?
These questions can tell you more about a job opportunity than an hourly figure alone.
Conclusion
How much do tree service workers make?
In the United States, tree trimmers and pruners had a median wage of $24.50 per hour, or $50,960 per year, in May 2025.
The lowest and highest earners reported by the BLS were considerably farther apart, showing how much pay can vary.
Experience, climbing ability, equipment skills, responsibility, location, and the type of work all matter.
For anyone considering tree service as a career, the starting wage is only one part of the decision.
The skills you build and the responsibilities you can take on may have a major effect on your earning potential over time.
