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The differences between gardeners and arborists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a gardener and an arborist. Additionally, an arborist has an average salary of $41,881, which is higher than the $32,912 average annual salary of a gardener.
The top three skills for a gardener include GRASS, mowing and hand tools. The most important skills for an arborist are CDL, hand tools, and CPR.
| Gardener | Arborist | |
| Yearly salary | $32,912 | $41,881 |
| Hourly rate | $15.82 | $20.14 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 5,411 | 4,040 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Gardeners are skilled employees who are responsible for monitoring the health of all plants and trees while maintaining the landscape of a garden. These gardeners are required to trim lawns edges while using rakes and brooms to remove lawn clippings and clear other debris from the ground. They need to use various gardening tools to perform basic pruning while neatly shaping bushes and trees to the desired design. Gardeners must also apply liquid fertilizers and chemical control agents to remove weeds and protect the attractiveness of the landscapes.
An arborist is responsible for studying the tree structures and cultivating it for its growth and development as part of environmental conservation efforts. Arborists conduct regular pruning and fertilization, keeping the trees away from parasites and other harmful substances. They also operate various tools and equipment for efficiency and accurate processing. An arborist coordinates with environmental and community organizations to keep the trees' healthy condition, as well as recommending activities that would help in sustaining efforts, such as planting and growing trees across the desired location.
Gardeners and arborists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Gardener | Arborist | |
| Average salary | $32,912 | $41,881 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $47,000 | Between $30,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Union City, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | UC Santa Barbara | Florida Power & Light |
| Best paying industry | Media | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a gardener and an arborist in terms of educational background:
| Gardener | Arborist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Plant Sciences | Forestry |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between gardeners' and arborists' demographics:
| Gardener | Arborist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 28.0% Asian, 1.8% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 1.5% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |