How To Become A Tree Climber: What It Is and Career Path

What is a tree climber and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

For most of us, climbing trees is a phase we grow out of by the time we hit puberty and can appreciate the risks of a broken bone. But professional tree climbers never grow out of the urge to climb the nearest strong oak or elm. In fact, they get paid to do so.

Professional tree climbers often double as arborists, otherwise known as people who help keep trees healthy. They cut away dead branches and prune trees so that they look attractive and are safe to walk under. However, some tree climbers also work as guides in tourism or recreation as recreational tree climbing is becoming more and more popular among the young at heart.

As you can probably imagine, tree climbing isn't a skill that you can major in at most universities, which explains why few tree climbers have bachelor's degrees. Most learn the tools of the trade on the job, such as how to use climbing ropes and saddles to climb trees. Professional tree climbing is far more technical than the scramble to the nearest branch in childhood.

ScoreTree ClimberUS Average

Salary

3.3

Avg. Salary $42,833

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.6

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.78%

Asian 1.02%

Black or African American 7.54%

Hispanic or Latino 20.07%

Unknown 4.74%

White 64.86%

Gender

female 2.27%

male 97.73%

Age - 36

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 36

Stress level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.2

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a tree climber

Explore tree climber education requirements

Most common tree climber degrees

High School Diploma

49.7 %

Diploma

17.3 %

Bachelor's

15.9 %

Start to develop specific tree climber skills

Skills	Percentages
CDL	23.89%
Bucket Truck	13.04%
Hand Tools	11.44%
Lawn Care	10.11%
Aerial Lift	7.81%

Complete relevant tree climber training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New tree climbers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a tree climber based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real tree climber resumes.

Research tree climber duties and responsibilities

Trim, top, and reshape trees to achieve attractive shapes and to remove low-hanging branches.
Adhere to all ANSI and OSHA guidelines, to include company guidelines.
Cut branches from trees, using chainsaws, handsaws, clippers, etc.
Drag brush, chuck logs, run rope, removals, prune, clean out, rigging.

Prepare your tree climber resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your tree climber resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a tree climber resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable tree climber resume templates

Build a professional tree climber resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your tree climber resume.