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The average salary for a Tree Climber in the United States is approximately $42,833 per year. This translates to about $21 per hour. Factors that affect salaries can include geographic location, years of experience, and specific job roles within the industry. For example, tree climbers with specialized skills or certifications may earn more than those in entry-level positions.
Certain states offer higher salaries for tree climbers. States like California, New York, and Washington consistently rank as the top-paying regions due to their demand for skilled labor in urban landscaping and maintenance. Understanding these regional differences can help tree climbers target their job searches effectively.
In addition to salary considerations, the tree climbing profession presents various job opportunities, including positions within landscaping companies, municipal services, and private tree care firms. Networking and gaining experience can significantly enhance career prospects in this field.
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The highest-paying states for tree climbers are California, New York, and Alaska. The lowest average tree climber salary states are Kansas, Alabama, and Missouri.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $54,992 | $26.44 |
| 2 | Ohio | $46,692 | $22.45 |
| 3 | Illinois | $52,686 | $25.33 |
| 4 | Utah | $53,260 | $25.61 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $46,702 | $22.45 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $47,554 | $22.86 |
| 7 | California | $55,917 | $26.88 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $52,613 | $25.29 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $51,918 | $24.96 |
| 10 | Vermont | $46,259 | $22.24 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $47,599 | $22.88 |
| 12 | Montana | $48,273 | $23.21 |
| 13 | Nevada | $49,936 | $24.01 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $47,322 | $22.75 |
| 15 | Alaska | $54,496 | $26.20 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $46,187 | $22.21 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $43,249 | $20.79 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $44,544 | $21.42 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $46,799 | $22.50 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $44,064 | $21.18 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $47,146 | $22.67 |
| 22 | Delaware | $46,588 | $22.40 |
| 23 | Idaho | $45,996 | $22.11 |
| 24 | Indiana | $42,369 | $20.37 |
| 25 | Maryland | $43,607 | $20.96 |
| 26 | Michigan | $41,335 | $19.87 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $39,559 | $19.02 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $41,178 | $19.80 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $42,374 | $20.37 |
| 30 | Virginia | $42,027 | $20.21 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $49,898 | $23.99 |
| 32 | Arizona | $40,957 | $19.69 |
| 33 | Maine | $39,037 | $18.77 |
| 34 | Iowa | $40,946 | $19.69 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $46,068 | $22.15 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $38,645 | $18.58 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $42,303 | $20.34 |
| 38 | Washington | $42,433 | $20.40 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $38,227 | $18.38 |
| 40 | Texas | $39,122 | $18.81 |
| 41 | Oregon | $41,265 | $19.84 |
| 42 | Georgia | $38,196 | $18.36 |
| 43 | Alabama | $36,723 | $17.66 |
| 44 | Kansas | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| 45 | Colorado | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| 46 | Florida | $34,573 | $16.62 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $38,647 | $18.58 |
| 48 | Missouri | $36,163 | $17.39 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $37,770 | $18.16 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $33,892 | $16.29 |
| 51 | Wisconsin | $32,979 | $15.86 |
The highest-paying cities for tree climbers are Santa Clara, CA, Salt Lake City, UT, and Northbrook, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clara, CA | $57,023 | $27.41 |
| 2 | Salt Lake City, UT | $53,211 | $25.58 |
| 3 | Northbrook, IL | $52,865 | $25.42 |
| 4 | Englewood, NJ | $52,770 | $25.37 |
| 5 | Billerica, MA | $44,391 | $21.34 |
| 6 | Tulsa, OK | $44,152 | $21.23 |
| 7 | Fort Wayne, IN | $43,024 | $20.68 |
| 8 | Leesburg, VA | $42,880 | $20.62 |
| 9 | Levittown, PA | $42,561 | $20.46 |
| 10 | Bothell, WA | $42,521 | $20.44 |
| 11 | Troy, MI | $41,410 | $19.91 |
| 12 | Hillsboro, OR | $41,301 | $19.86 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $41,051 | $19.74 |
| 14 | Portland, ME | $39,156 | $18.82 |
| 15 | Englewood, CO | $38,906 | $18.70 |
| 16 | Houston, TX | $38,564 | $18.54 |
| 17 | Savannah, GA | $37,258 | $17.91 |
| 18 | Orlando, FL | $34,335 | $16.51 |
| 19 | New Berlin, WI | $32,959 | $15.85 |
A tree climber's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $58,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| Average | $42,833 | $3,569 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
The highest paying types of tree climbers are tree surgeon, tree specialist, and diagnostician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groundsman | $33,013 | $2,751 | $15.87 | 3,486 |
| Grounds Person | $33,955 | $2,830 | $16.32 | 37,122 |
| Trimmer | $31,600 | $2,633 | $15.19 | 2,023 |
Top companies hiring tree climbers now:
Tree climber salaries at Cagwin & Dorward and The Lanco Group are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average tree climber salary at companies like DigitalPath and The Care of Trees are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cagwin & Dorward | $49,633 | $23.86 |
| 2 | The Lanco Group | $46,523 | $22.37 |
| 3 | DigitalPath | $45,246 | $21.75 |
| 4 | The Care of Trees | $44,362 | $21.33 |
| 5 | Juniper | $44,347 | $21.32 |
| 6 | DJ's Landscape Management | $44,307 | $21.30 |
| 7 | The Davey Tree Expert Company | $44,286 | $21.29 |
| 8 | AAA Landscape | $44,264 | $21.28 |
| 9 | SavATree | $44,242 | $21.27 |
| 10 | Penn Line | $44,217 | $21.26 |
| 11 | BrightView Landscape Development Inc | $44,188 | $21.24 |
| 12 | Acres Group | $44,176 | $21.24 |
| 13 | Lewis Tree Service | $43,807 | $21.06 |
| 14 | Ryan Lawn & Tree | $43,256 | $20.80 |
| 15 | BrightView | $41,403 | $19.91 |
| 16 | City of Rockville | $38,937 | $18.72 |
| 17 | BAM | $38,383 | $18.45 |
| 18 | City of Aurora | $36,913 | $17.75 |
| 19 | Pebble Beach Resorts | $35,627 | $17.13 |
| 20 | The Landrum Company, Inc. | $33,982 | $16.34 |
The average tree climber salary has risen by $10,382 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average tree climber earned $32,451 annually, but today, they earn $42,833 a year. That works out to a 18% change in pay for tree climbers over the last decade.
Compare tree climber salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare tree climber salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,800 | $20.59 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $41,400 | $19.92 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $39,600 | $19.02 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | $37,800 | $18.16 | +3.9% |
| 2021 | $36,300 | $17.45 | +4.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monster Tree Service | Tree Climber-Monster Tree Service of ST. Charles | Saint Louis, MO | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Brightview Landscapes, LLC | Tree Climber | Oceanside, NY | 06/25/2025 | $73,045 |
| Cb | Tree Climber Arborist | Mobile, AL | 06/25/2025 | $52,175 |
| Brightview | Tree Climber | Oceanside, NY | 06/25/2025 | $73,045 |
| Ryan Lawn & Tree | Arborist/Tree Climber | Chesterfield, MO | 06/24/2025 | $50,000 |
| Homer Companies | Tree Climber | Lockport, IL | 06/21/2025 | $48,001 |
| Arbor Masters | Tree Climber | Wichita, KS | 06/20/2025 | $56,349 |
| Morgan Stephens | Tree Climber/Crew Leader | Hilliard, OH | 06/20/2025 | $66,784 |
| Cb | Professional Tree Climber | Pensacola, FL | 06/15/2025 | $52,175 |
| Brightview Landscapes, LLC | Tree Climber | Laurel, MD | 06/12/2025 | $56,349 |
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