Tree Trimmers and Pruners salary in the U.S.
Tree Trimmers and Pruners in the U.S. earn a median of $50,960 a year ($24.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 55,160 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,310 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $55,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tree trimmers and pruners in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| 25th percentile | $44,840 | $21.56 |
| Median | $50,960 | $24.50 |
| 75th percentile | $63,900 | $30.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,310 | $38.61 |
| Average (mean) | $55,970 | $26.91 |
Half of tree trimmers and pruners earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,246.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,123.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,960 |
| Weekly | $980 |
| Hourly | $24.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Tree Trimmers and Pruners salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Puerto Rico | $50,770 | n/a |
| 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 |
Best-paying metro areas for tree trimmers and pruners
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $77,460 | n/a |
| New Haven, CT | $76,450 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $75,980 | 990 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $75,570 | 1,160 |
| Syracuse, NY | $75,140 | 130 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $74,580 | n/a |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $73,570 | 190 |
| Salem, OR | $71,190 | 100 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $70,550 | n/a |
| Bend, OR | $70,250 | 40 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $68,290 | 50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $68,110 | 310 |
| Kingston, NY | $66,160 | 100 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $65,130 | n/a |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $64,260 | 630 |
Metro areas with the most tree trimmers and pruners
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,150 | $60,440 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,120 | $39,660 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,580 | $62,940 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,270 | $60,260 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,160 | $75,570 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,060 | $62,780 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 990 | $75,980 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 800 | $39,800 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 800 | $63,500 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 710 | $63,410 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 700 | $45,200 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 680 | $48,540 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 670 | $51,700 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 650 | $63,630 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 630 | $64,260 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation | $46,340 | $22.28 |
| Grounds Maintenance Workers, All Other | $46,860 | $22.53 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $35,510 | $17.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers | $49,100 | $23.61 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | $58,430 | $28.09 |
| Pest Control Worker | $45,250 | $21.75 |
| Building Cleaning Workers, All Other | $44,040 | $21.17 |
More: Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 37-3013. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tree trimmers and pruners make in the U.S.?
The median salary for tree trimmers and pruners in the U.S. is $50,960 a year, or $24.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tree trimmers and pruners make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of tree trimmers and pruners in the U.S. earn at least $80,310 a year. The top 25% earn $63,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for tree trimmers and pruners in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,940 a year, and a quarter of tree trimmers and pruners earn $44,840 or less.
How many tree trimmers and pruners work in the U.S.?
About 55,160 tree trimmers and pruners are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.