Tree Trimmer salary by state
The national median for tree trimmers was $24.50 an hour, or $50,960 a year, in May 2025. Where the work is changes that a lot: Minnesota pays $18.30 an hour more at the median than Nebraska.
$24.50National median hourly
$50,960National median yearly
55,160Tree Trimmers on payrolls
49States with published figures
National pay for tree trimmers
BLS calls this group tree trimmers and pruners. It covers climbers who cut and prune trees for homes, roads and utility lines, and includes utility arborists.
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.24 | $37,940 |
| 25th percentile | $21.56 | $44,840 |
| Median | $24.50 | $50,960 |
| 75th percentile | $30.72 | $63,900 |
| 90th percentile | $38.61 | $80,310 |
| Average (mean) | $26.91 | $55,970 |
Highest and lowest paying states
Ranked by median hourly wage. These are wages as paid, not adjusted for living costs.
| Top 5 | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Minnesota | $37.24 | $77,460 |
| 2. Oregon | $36.27 | $75,440 |
| 3. New Jersey | $34.59 | $71,940 |
| 4. Illinois | $30.99 | $64,450 |
| 5. Washington | $30.70 | $63,850 |
| Bottom 5 | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 49. Nebraska | $18.94 | $39,380 |
| 48. Texas | $19.17 | $39,880 |
| 47. Alabama | $19.95 | $41,500 |
| 46. Mississippi | $19.98 | $41,560 |
| 45. Iowa | $20.62 | $42,890 |
Tree Trimmer pay in every state
Pick a state for its full page: the pay range, how it compares with its neighbors, how many tree trimmers work there and what a business should charge. BLS did not publish figures for 2 states; they show without a page.
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Bottom to top tenth | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $19.95 | $41,500 | $16.03 to $27.59 | 890 |
| Alaska | Not published by BLS for May 2025 | |||
| Arizona | $24.36 | $50,680 | $18.03 to $28.54 | Not published |
| Arkansas | $21.95 | $45,650 | $13.92 to $32.66 | 290 |
| California | $30.07 | $62,550 | $17.19 to $44.36 | 9,610 |
| Colorado | $24.71 | $51,390 | $22.88 to $29.64 | 1,200 |
| Connecticut | $23.52 | $48,930 | $18.11 to $37.85 | 360 |
| Delaware | $23.72 | $49,330 | $23.05 to $37.78 | Not published |
| District of Columbia | Not published by BLS for May 2025 | |||
| Florida | $22.15 | $46,070 | $13.79 to $27.99 | 2,770 |
| Georgia | $22.55 | $46,910 | $12.60 to $29.92 | 1,030 |
| Hawaii | $27.40 | $56,990 | $22.27 to $37.10 | 170 |
| Idaho | $21.08 | $43,840 | $19.75 to $27.19 | Not published |
| Illinois | $30.99 | $64,450 | $24.18 to $43.67 | 700 |
| Indiana | $22.14 | $46,050 | $18.22 to $28.32 | 1,850 |
| Iowa | $20.62 | $42,890 | $9.83 to $32.95 | 380 |
| Kansas | $23.27 | $48,400 | $18.78 to $29.90 | 390 |
| Kentucky | $21.35 | $44,410 | $12.93 to $27.62 | 1,020 |
| Louisiana | $22.77 | $47,350 | $16.06 to $29.98 | 120 |
| Maine | $22.32 | $46,430 | $19.26 to $40.55 | Not published |
| Maryland | $22.70 | $47,210 | $18.90 to $30.82 | 730 |
| Massachusetts | $30.07 | $62,550 | $23.57 to $38.90 | 2,090 |
| Michigan | $27.67 | $57,550 | $21.87 to $32.16 | 1,840 |
| Minnesota | $37.24 | $77,460 | $30.57 to $37.24 | Not published |
| Mississippi | $19.98 | $41,560 | $17.14 to $29.10 | 260 |
| Missouri | $29.40 | $61,140 | $18.06 to $34.11 | 970 |
| Montana | $28.65 | $59,580 | $22.57 to $33.54 | 230 |
| Nebraska | $18.94 | $39,380 | $17.85 to $29.27 | Not published |
| Nevada | $24.62 | $51,210 | $19.16 to $30.26 | 190 |
| New Hampshire | $28.68 | $59,660 | $22.75 to $30.29 | 330 |
| New Jersey | $34.59 | $71,940 | $25.40 to $38.81 | Not published |
| New Mexico | $22.76 | $47,330 | $21.67 to $30.16 | Not published |
| New York | $30.00 | $62,400 | $20.00 to $40.24 | 3,750 |
| North Carolina | $23.31 | $48,480 | $17.37 to $30.10 | 1,560 |
| North Dakota | $21.55 | $44,820 | $15.39 to $28.73 | Not published |
| Ohio | $23.87 | $49,650 | $21.63 to $27.62 | 1,460 |
| Oklahoma | $22.57 | $46,950 | $18.32 to $27.00 | 860 |
| Oregon | $36.27 | $75,440 | $24.63 to $45.42 | 1,610 |
| Pennsylvania | $27.98 | $58,200 | $22.50 to $36.42 | 3,160 |
| Rhode Island | $29.35 | $61,040 | $28.79 to $34.22 | 110 |
| South Carolina | $20.99 | $43,660 | $14.41 to $29.14 | 430 |
| South Dakota | $24.25 | $50,430 | $19.25 to $33.96 | 270 |
| Tennessee | $22.76 | $47,350 | $18.30 to $29.56 | 710 |
| Texas | $19.17 | $39,880 | $17.12 to $23.66 | 4,460 |
| Utah | $27.35 | $56,890 | $25.03 to $34.26 | 200 |
| Vermont | $29.89 | $62,170 | $23.24 to $35.07 | 430 |
| Virginia | $23.34 | $48,550 | $18.72 to $28.54 | 1,070 |
| Washington | $30.70 | $63,850 | $21.41 to $45.01 | 700 |
| West Virginia | $23.62 | $49,140 | $17.47 to $27.53 | 1,420 |
| Wisconsin | $27.85 | $57,930 | $22.06 to $37.14 | 1,190 |
| Wyoming | $22.22 | $46,210 | $13.59 to $35.60 | Not published |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 37-3013, tree trimmers and pruners, all industries. Read from the BLS state and national data files. Counts leave out the self-employed.
From a wage to a price
If you run the business, the wage is only the start. At the national median of $24.50, the labor rate calculator's starting numbers (one person, 2 unbilled hours a day, $90,000 of overhead, 15% profit) give a rate of $113.61 per billable hour. Try yours in the labor rate calculator.
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