How to hire a tree cutter

How to hire a tree cutter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step tree cutter hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a tree cutter job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new tree cutter
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your tree cutter job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a tree cutter for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect tree cutter also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of tree cutters and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Tree Cutter	Description	Hourly rate
   Tree Cutter	Grounds maintenance workers ensure that the grounds of houses, businesses, and parks are attractive, orderly, and healthy in order to provide a pleasant outdoor environment.	$13-24
   Trimmer	Trimmers are responsible for controlling machines to finish preformed plastic parts. They trim the part to shape and form to the size following the model and utilizing a power saw or power grinder... Show more	$11-19
   Tree Climber	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... Show more	$14-27

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Lawn Care
   • Safety Devices
   • Rakes
   • Prune
   • Handsaws
   • Trim Trees
   • Shovels
   • Booms
   • Mowing
   • Leaf Blower
   • Blowers

   Responsibilities:

   • Trim, top, and reshape trees to achieve attractive shapes and to remove low-hanging branches.
   • Operate chain saws, stump grinders, wood chippers, skid loaders, trailer trucks, and other tree service equipment.
   • Collect debris and refuse from tree trimming and removal operations into piles, using shovels, rakes and other tools.
   • Trim with pruners and pole see from the ground.
   • Assist with lawn mowing and landscaping.
   • Purchase, lease or rent required equipment including skid steer, mowers, extend trailers, etc.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your tree cutter job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A tree cutter salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, tree cutters' average salary in arkansas is 44% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level tree cutters earn 43% less than senior-level tree cutters.
   • Certifications. A tree cutter with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a tree cutter's salary.

   Average tree cutter salary

   $38,948yearly

   $18.73 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level tree cutter salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

4. Writing a tree cutter job description

   A tree cutter job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a tree cutter job description:

   Tree cutter job description example

   Climber **Up to $35.00hr! **

   SavATree’s mission is to take our passion for nature and keep this country’s outdoors beautiful and flourishing. Through our comprehensive tree, shrub, and lawn care we work hard to make sure our discerning customers have attractive, healthy and cared-for green spaces to enjoy. Over the last thirty years, we have opened new offices across the country, and we are looking for people who want to grow with us.

   The General Tree Care Team are the muscle of our operation. These industrial athletes work together to provide high-quality tree care, helping to maintain and preserve the overall health of our clients’ landscapes.

   In this role, team members have the opportunity to work outside and visit beautiful properties in their community. The Tree Care team applies expertise in climbing, pruning, and safety to ensure the health and well-being of each client’s landscape.

   What a day is like:

   Daily focus is working together on a General Tree Care crew to provide high quality tree care to our clients. The Tree Care Team is involved in all aspects of tree climbing, pruning, removals, cable bracing and other concepts related to tree care. Team members are able to safely operate all equipment and perform the assigned job tasks while also providing excellent service to our clients.

   What kind of person are we looking for? Someone with:

   • Experience with proper pruning practices including large shade trees and ornamentals
   • Ability to identify native and introduced tree and shrub species and have a working knowledge of each species’ characteristics
   • Ability to climb without spurs
   • Experience with tree care safety standards
   • Practical knowledge of chainsaw and equipment operation
   • Valid Driver’s license, CDL a plus
   • previous tree climbing experience a plus
   • Experience with aerial lifts (bucket truck)

   Why you might love working here:

   • We have lots of training and development opportunities and support continuing education in the industry
   • Our Tree Care Team works alongside some of the best trained and equipped teams in the industry, with an emphasis on quality and safety
   • We offer competitive compensation and benefits, including health and dental, paid time off, 401(K) Savings Plan, Flexible Spending Plan, Equipment Account

   Interested in taking your career to another location? We have several openings at other SavATree locations across the United States, and we offer relocation assistance in most cases. Just ask us for further details.

   SavATree is an equal opportunity employer and a Drug Free Workplace

   #sponsor

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right tree cutter for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with tree cutters they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit tree cutters who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your tree cutter job on Zippia to find and recruit tree cutter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting tree cutters requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new tree cutter

   Once you've selected the best tree cutter candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new tree cutter. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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