Tree trimmers and pruners
SOC Code: 37-3013
Tree trimmers and pruners carries a 31% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $50,430 and +3.3% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 60,100 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Tree trimmers and pruners (SOC 37-3013) carries an AI exposure score of 31%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 60,100 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +3.3% change through 2034 — modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $50,430, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Tree trimmers and pruners. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Operate shredding and chipping equipment, and feed limbs and brush into the machines.
- 2. Operate boom trucks, loaders, stump chippers, brush chippers, tractors, power saws, trucks, sprayers, and other equipment and tools.
- 3. Cut away dead and excess branches from trees, or clear branches around power lines, using climbing equipment or buckets of extended truck booms, or chainsaws, hooks, handsaws, shears, and clippers.
- 4. Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment.
- 5. Hoist tools and equipment to tree trimmers, and lower branches with ropes or block and tackle.
- 6. Climb trees, using climbing hooks and belts, or climb ladders to gain access to work areas.
- 7. Supervise others engaged in tree trimming work and train lower-level employees.
- 8. Trim, top, and reshape trees to achieve attractive shapes or to remove low-hanging branches.
- 9. Plan and develop budgets for tree work, and estimate the monetary value of trees.
- 10. Load debris and refuse onto trucks and haul it away for disposal.
Key Skills Required
- Operation and Control
- Operations Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
- Speaking
- Coordination
- Instructing
- Active Listening
- Service Orientation
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mechanical
- Public Safety and Security
- Production and Processing
- Transportation
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Law and Government
- Physics
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Tree trimmers and pruners?
Tree trimmers and pruners has an AI exposure score of 31%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Tree trimmers and pruners?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Tree trimmers and pruners is projected to grow by 3.3% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 60,100 workers.
What skills are needed for Tree trimmers and pruners?
Key skills for Tree trimmers and pruners include Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Tree trimmers and pruners earn?
The median annual wage for Tree trimmers and pruners is $50,430, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Tree trimmers and pruners?
The typical entry-level education for Tree trimmers and pruners is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Tree trimmers and pruners?
Tree trimmers and pruners roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).