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Landscaper vs arborist

The differences between landscapers 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 landscaper and an arborist. Additionally, an arborist has an average salary of $41,881, which is higher than the $28,952 average annual salary of a landscaper.

The top three skills for a landscaper include mowing, taking care and GRASS. The most important skills for an arborist are CDL, hand tools, and CPR.

Landscaper vs arborist overview

LandscaperArborist
Yearly salary$28,952$41,881
Hourly rate$13.92$20.14
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs11,1474,040
Job satisfaction44
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age4141
Years of experience22

What does a landscaper do?

A landscaper is responsible for maintaining gardens, plant areas, and other outdoor facilities. Landscapers' duties include reviewing and adjusting landscape design based on the clients' specifications, analyzing garden layouts, measuring land areas and surfaces for the design outlines, installing irrigation systems, maintaining plant growth, and applying fertilizers regularly. Landscapers will also work on removing weeds, trimming overgrown plants, checking defects on landscape equipment, and coordinating with other outdoor design professionals. A landscaper should be knowledgeable about the recent landscaping trends to suggest designs and improve the landscape presentation.

What does an arborist do?

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.

Landscaper vs arborist salary

Landscapers and arborists have different pay scales, as shown below.

LandscaperArborist
Average salary$28,952$41,881
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $36,000Between $30,000 And $57,000
Highest paying CitySanta Clara, CARedwood City, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsCalifornia
Best paying companyPrinceton UniversityFlorida Power & Light
Best paying industryHealth CareManufacturing

Differences between landscaper and arborist education

There are a few differences between a landscaper and an arborist in terms of educational background:

LandscaperArborist
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorBusinessForestry
Most common college--

Landscaper vs arborist demographics

Here are the differences between landscapers' and arborists' demographics:

LandscaperArborist
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 91.0% Female, 9.0%Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 1.5% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%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 Percentage3%3%

Differences between landscaper and arborist duties and responsibilities

Landscaper example responsibilities.

  • Manage clients and run all landscape operations including groundskeeping, seasonal cleaning, and pressure washing
  • Manage hardscape installation team and project
  • Operate powered equipment such as mowers, tractors, snow blowers, chainsaws, sod cutters, pruning saws and edgers.
  • Install plants, landscape lighting, and hardscape features (including retaining walls, paving stones and ponds).
  • Used various tools to cut grass, prune small trees and shrubbery, paint, and perform other landscaping duties.
  • Operate weed-whacker, leaf blower, lawn mower, and use of handsaw, shovels, and clippers as needed.
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Arborist example responsibilities.

  • Cut grass weed eater feed animals water plants fix mowers drive tractor work on plumbing.
  • Utilize climbing equipment or buckets of extend truck booms, and/or chainsaws, hooks, handsaws, shears, and clippers.
  • Obtain ISA certification, pesticide applicator certification and CDL.
  • Maintain and mow lawns; top, trim, and prune shrubs, hedges, and trees.
  • Follow all ANSI pruning practices.
  • Asphalt roller man grind man shovel loot operator
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Landscaper vs arborist skills

Common landscaper skills
  • Mowing, 19%
  • Taking Care, 14%
  • GRASS, 12%
  • Power Saws, 11%
  • Prune, 7%
  • Golf Courses, 6%
Common arborist skills
  • CDL, 12%
  • Hand Tools, 11%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • ISA, 6%
  • Grinders, 5%

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