What does a tree climber do?
The job of a Tree Climber is to skillfully ascend and descend a tall tree while performing a range of duties. Your key role is to train people like researchers and photographers on how to safely climb trees and to assess the canopy of really large trees so as to maintain them. These duties you'll do include pruning of tree branches and spraying to eliminate pests and diseases, all of which fall under arborist duties. You may even be responsible for providing adventure to eco-tourists in the entertainment industry.
Tree climber responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real tree climber resumes:
- 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.
- Drive CDL require company vehicles.
- Spread rock with shovels and bobcats.
- Follow all safety work procedures, ANSI pruning practices and industry standards.
- Trim and prune trees away from power lines to clear right of way.
- Follow site maps, used GPS unit and document work using hand-held computer.
- Plant and maintain flower beds, maintain public areas via lawn mowing and trimming.
- Operate stump grinders, shredding and chipping equipment, and feed limbs and brush into the machines.
- Investigate power outages cause by trees using tools such as a hand hold computer and GPS unit.
- Insert jacks or drive wedges behind saws to prevent binding of saws and to start trees falling.
- Experience with various climbing techniques and equipment, chainsaws, stump grinders, wood chippers, and other heavy machinery.
- Hand dig area between old and new poles to ensure enough room to transfer wires, dips etc to new poles.
Tree climber skills and personality traits
We calculated that 24% of Tree Climbers are proficient in CDL, Bucket Truck, and Hand Tools.
We break down the percentage of Tree Climbers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- CDL, 24%
Obtained CDL Class B with air brakes allowing operation of Chip truck, Bucket truck, Crane, and Clam Truck.
- Bucket Truck, 13%
Tree and Stump RemovalBucket Truck OperationJob EstimatesTeam Leader
- Hand Tools, 11%
Operated landscape maintenance and construction hand tools.
- Lawn Care, 10%
Operate string trimmers and automatic fertilizer applicator for general lawn care.
- Aerial Lift, 8%
Experience in log loader, bobcat tractor, and aerial lift operation.
- Line Clearance, 6%
Tree Climbing, Bucket Operation, Power Line Clearance, Driving, Truck Maintenance, Stump Grinding
Common skills that a tree climber uses to do their job include "cdl," "bucket truck," and "hand tools." You can find details on the most important tree climber responsibilities below.
Physical stamina. One of the key soft skills for a tree climber to have is physical stamina. You can see how this relates to what tree climbers do because "grounds maintenance workers must be able to do strenuous labor for long periods of time, occasionally in extreme heat or cold." Additionally, a tree climber resume shows how tree climbers use physical stamina: "learned how to operate a telescoping boom truckskills useddecision making, leadership, communication with clients, physical stamina"
The three companies that hire the most tree climbers are:
- SavATree139 tree climbers jobs
- Penn Line55 tree climbers jobs
- BrightView Landscape Development Inc26 tree climbers jobs
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Compare different tree climbers
Tree climber vs. Diagnostician
Groundsmen or greenkeepers are professionals who take responsibility for the maintenance of materials and equipment. They make certain to provide enough stock of consumables. Part of their responsibilities is to make sure that the grounds, flowers, lawns, and shrubs are kept from plant diseases and harmful insects. They are also responsible for looking after the sports grounds, including bowling greens, racecourses, tennis courts, rugby pitches, and football fields.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a tree climber are more likely to require skills like "cdl," "bucket truck," "hand tools," and "lawn care." On the other hand, a job as a diagnostician requires skills like "iep," "program development," "autism," and "medicaid." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that diagnosticians earn slightly differ from tree climbers. In particular, diagnosticians are 25.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a tree climber. Additionally, they're 5.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Tree climber vs. Groundsman
A grounds person is responsible for the overall upkeep of an institution's grounds, public parks, and other similar areas. They are usually employed in schools, especially in schools with provisions for outdoor sports or lawn sports such as soccer, golf, tennis, and football, among others. A grounds person is in charge of the maintenance of the grass on the lawn, of the repairs and maintenance of fixtures such as lights, benches, and fountains, and even of the cleanliness of the area. As such, it is expected that a grounds person is familiar with taking care of plants, conducting routine maintenance work, and repairing fixtures.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real tree climber resumes. While tree climber responsibilities can utilize skills like "aerial lift," "line clearance," "safety procedures," and "ansi," groundsmen use skills like "construction sites," "dump truck," "locomotives," and "cpr."
Groundsmen may earn a lower salary than tree climbers, but groundsmen earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $36,622. On the other hand, tree climbers receive higher pay in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $45,245.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Groundsmen tend to reach similar levels of education than tree climbers. In fact, they're 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 5.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Tree climber vs. Grounds person
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a tree climber is likely to be skilled in "aerial lift," "ansi," "tree care," and "isa," while a typical grounds person is skilled in "ladders," "dexterity," "ppe," and "grass."
Grounds people earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $36,697. Comparatively, tree climbers have the highest earning potential in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $45,245.grounds people typically earn similar educational levels compared to tree climbers. Specifically, they're 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Tree climber vs. Tree care foreman
Types of tree climber
Updated January 8, 2025
