Tree Trimmers and Pruners
Using sophisticated climbing and rigging techniques, cut away dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs to maintain right-of-way for roads, sidewalks, or utilities, or to improve appearance, health, and value of tree. Prune or treat trees or shrubs using handsaws, hand pruners, clippers, and power pruners. Works off the ground in the tree canopy and may use truck-mounted lifts.
AI Impact Summary
Tree Trimmers and Pruners faces low AI displacement risk with a score of 18/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 4% of all analyzed occupations. Of 26 analyzed tasks, 0 are highly automatable. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Tree Trimmers and Pruners skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
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AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Cybersecurity Fundamentals Path
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Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
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Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
26 tasks analyzed
Operate shredding and chipping equipment, and feed limbs and brush into the machines.
Operate boom trucks, loaders, stump chippers, brush chippers, tractors, power saws, trucks, sprayers, and other equipment and tools.
Cut away dead and excess branches from trees, or clear branches around power lines, using climbing equipment or buckets of extended truck booms, or chainsaws, hooks, handsaws, shears, and clippers.
Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment.
Hoist tools and equipment to tree trimmers, and lower branches with ropes or block and tackle.
Climb trees, using climbing hooks and belts, or climb ladders to gain access to work areas.
Supervise others engaged in tree trimming work and train lower-level employees.
Trim, top, and reshape trees to achieve attractive shapes or to remove low-hanging branches.
Plan and develop budgets for tree work, and estimate the monetary value of trees.
Load debris and refuse onto trucks and haul it away for disposal.
Inspect trees to determine if they have diseases or pest problems.
Prune, cut down, fertilize, and spray trees as directed by tree surgeons.
Provide information to the public regarding trees, such as advice on tree care.
Trim jagged stumps, using saws or pruning shears.
Clear sites, streets, and grounds of woody and herbaceous materials, such as tree stumps and fallen trees and limbs.
Collect debris and refuse from tree trimming and removal operations into piles, using shovels, rakes, or other tools.
Remove broken limbs from wires, using hooked extension poles.
Water, root-feed, and fertilize trees.
Cable, brace, tie, bolt, stake, and guy trees and branches to provide support.
Install lightning protection on trees.
Scrape decayed matter from cavities in trees and fill holes with cement to promote healing and to prevent further deterioration.
Spray trees to treat diseased or unhealthy trees, including mixing chemicals and calibrating spray equipment.
Apply tar or other protective substances to cut surfaces or seal surfaces and to protect them from fungi and insects.
Transplant and remove trees and shrubs, and prepare trees for moving.
Split logs or wooden blocks into bolts, pickets, posts, or stakes, using hand tools such as ax wedges, sledgehammers, and mallets.
Harvest tanbark by cutting rings and slits in bark and stripping bark from trees, using spuds or axes.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operate shredding and chipping equipment, and feed limbs and brush into the machines. | 15Estimated | 39.0% | 7% | |
| Operate boom trucks, loaders, stump chippers, brush chippers, tractors, power saws, trucks, sprayers, and other equipment and tools. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 9% | |
| Cut away dead and excess branches from trees, or clear branches around power lines, using climbing equipment or buckets of extended truck booms, or chainsaws, hooks, handsaws, shears, and clippers. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 10% | |
| Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment. | 10Estimated | 37.0% | 4% | |
| Hoist tools and equipment to tree trimmers, and lower branches with ropes or block and tackle. | 10Estimated | 37.0% | 5% | |
| Climb trees, using climbing hooks and belts, or climb ladders to gain access to work areas. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 7% | |
| Supervise others engaged in tree trimming work and train lower-level employees. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 4% | |
| Trim, top, and reshape trees to achieve attractive shapes or to remove low-hanging branches. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 7% | |
| Plan and develop budgets for tree work, and estimate the monetary value of trees. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 2% | |
| Load debris and refuse onto trucks and haul it away for disposal. | 15Estimated | 39.0% | 4% | |
| Inspect trees to determine if they have diseases or pest problems. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 3% | |
| Prune, cut down, fertilize, and spray trees as directed by tree surgeons. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 4% | |
| Provide information to the public regarding trees, such as advice on tree care. | 70Estimated | 43.0% | 2% | |
| Trim jagged stumps, using saws or pruning shears. | 10Estimated | 37.0% | 3% | |
| Clear sites, streets, and grounds of woody and herbaceous materials, such as tree stumps and fallen trees and limbs. | 10Estimated | 37.0% | 4% | |
| Collect debris and refuse from tree trimming and removal operations into piles, using shovels, rakes, or other tools. | 10Estimated | 37.0% | 4% | |
| Remove broken limbs from wires, using hooked extension poles. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 3% | |
| Water, root-feed, and fertilize trees. | 20Estimated | 41.0% | 2% | |
| Cable, brace, tie, bolt, stake, and guy trees and branches to provide support. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 2% | |
| Install lightning protection on trees. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 2% | |
| Scrape decayed matter from cavities in trees and fill holes with cement to promote healing and to prevent further deterioration. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 2% | |
| Spray trees to treat diseased or unhealthy trees, including mixing chemicals and calibrating spray equipment. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 2% | |
| Apply tar or other protective substances to cut surfaces or seal surfaces and to protect them from fungi and insects. | 10Estimated | 37.0% | 2% | |
| Transplant and remove trees and shrubs, and prepare trees for moving. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 2% | |
| Split logs or wooden blocks into bolts, pickets, posts, or stakes, using hand tools such as ax wedges, sledgehammers, and mallets. | 10Estimated | 37.0% | 2% | |
| Harvest tanbark by cutting rings and slits in bark and stripping bark from trees, using spuds or axes. | 10Estimated | 37.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 27.7%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$50,430
per year
Mean Wage
$54,970
per year
Employment
48K
workers
Wage Range
$37,660 - $78,900
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Tree Trimmers and Pruners professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Information Ordering
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Instructing
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change