AITakeover Tracker
18%low risk

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.

Higher risk than 4% of occupations

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 Ordering5%

Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Reading Comprehension10%

Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Mathematics10%

Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Memorization5%

Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Mathematics10%

Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Programming15%

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 Dexterity80%

Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Leadership88%

Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Adaptability/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Complex Problem Solving75%

Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Instructing75%

Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Coordination70%

Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Service Orientation82%

Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Equipment Maintenance78%

Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

AI-Augmented Skills (7)

Critical ThinkingMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningWritingSystems AnalysisTechnology Design

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Tree Trimmers and Pruners skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.

Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.

Upskill to Reduce Risk

Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills

DataCampbeginner

SQL Fundamentals Skill Track

by DataCamp

21 hours$25/mo4.7Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Information Ordering

Estimated Impact

-6.6pt risk+$2K/yr salary

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Pluralsightbeginner

Cybersecurity Fundamentals Path

by Pluralsight

30 hours$29/mo4.5Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Monitoring

Estimated Impact

-4.9pt risk+$3K/yr salary

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Courseraintermediate

Leading People and Teams Specialization

by University of Michigan

~6 weeks$49/mo4.7Certificate
Strengthens resilience: Leadership

Estimated Impact

-3.8pt risk+$3K/yr salary

We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.

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

Less than High School57%
High School Diploma37%
Some College2%
Post-Secondary Certificate4%

Prior Experience Needed

Work experience required to enter this job

None21%
Up to 1 month7%
1-3 months2%
6 months - 1 year9%
1-2 years6%
2-4 years18%
6-8 years2%
8-10 years14%
Over 10 years20%

Training Provided After Hiring

How long it typically takes to learn on the job

None8%
Up to 1 month10%
1-3 months18%
3-6 months14%
6 months - 1 year21%
1-2 years19%
2-4 years5%
4-6 years6%

How AI Impacts Each Task

26 tasks analyzed

Operate shredding and chipping equipment, and feed limbs and brush into the machines.

Risk: 39.0%AI: 15EstimatedTime: 7%

Operate boom trucks, loaders, stump chippers, brush chippers, tractors, power saws, trucks, sprayers, and other equipment and tools.

Risk: 13.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 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.

Risk: 11.0%AI: 5EstimatedTime: 10%

Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment.

Risk: 37.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 4%

Hoist tools and equipment to tree trimmers, and lower branches with ropes or block and tackle.

Risk: 37.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 5%

Climb trees, using climbing hooks and belts, or climb ladders to gain access to work areas.

Risk: 9.0%AI: 0EstimatedTime: 7%

Supervise others engaged in tree trimming work and train lower-level employees.

Risk: 19.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 4%

Trim, top, and reshape trees to achieve attractive shapes or to remove low-hanging branches.

Risk: 11.0%AI: 5EstimatedTime: 7%

Plan and develop budgets for tree work, and estimate the monetary value of trees.

Risk: 55.0%AI: 70EstimatedTime: 2%

Load debris and refuse onto trucks and haul it away for disposal.

Risk: 39.0%AI: 15EstimatedTime: 4%

Inspect trees to determine if they have diseases or pest problems.

Risk: 55.0%AI: 70EstimatedTime: 3%

Prune, cut down, fertilize, and spray trees as directed by tree surgeons.

Risk: 13.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 4%

Provide information to the public regarding trees, such as advice on tree care.

Risk: 43.0%AI: 70EstimatedTime: 2%

Trim jagged stumps, using saws or pruning shears.

Risk: 37.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 3%

Clear sites, streets, and grounds of woody and herbaceous materials, such as tree stumps and fallen trees and limbs.

Risk: 37.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 4%

Collect debris and refuse from tree trimming and removal operations into piles, using shovels, rakes, or other tools.

Risk: 37.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 4%

Remove broken limbs from wires, using hooked extension poles.

Risk: 9.0%AI: 0EstimatedTime: 3%

Water, root-feed, and fertilize trees.

Risk: 41.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 2%

Cable, brace, tie, bolt, stake, and guy trees and branches to provide support.

Risk: 11.0%AI: 5EstimatedTime: 2%

Install lightning protection on trees.

Risk: 9.0%AI: 0EstimatedTime: 2%

Scrape decayed matter from cavities in trees and fill holes with cement to promote healing and to prevent further deterioration.

Risk: 11.0%AI: 5EstimatedTime: 2%

Spray trees to treat diseased or unhealthy trees, including mixing chemicals and calibrating spray equipment.

Risk: 45.0%AI: 30EstimatedTime: 2%

Apply tar or other protective substances to cut surfaces or seal surfaces and to protect them from fungi and insects.

Risk: 37.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 2%

Transplant and remove trees and shrubs, and prepare trees for moving.

Risk: 11.0%AI: 5EstimatedTime: 2%

Split logs or wooden blocks into bolts, pickets, posts, or stakes, using hand tools such as ax wedges, sledgehammers, and mallets.

Risk: 37.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 2%

Harvest tanbark by cutting rings and slits in bark and stripping bark from trees, using spuds or axes.

Risk: 37.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 2%

Protective Factors

Total protective discount: 27.7%

Essential Soft Skills

Traits that are hard for AI to replicate

CooperationAttention to DetailConcern for OthersDependabilitySelf ControlIntegrityStress ToleranceLeadershipAchievement/EffortPersistenceInitiativeSocial Orientation

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

$37,660Median: $50,430$78,900
Career Planning

Explore other career paths

Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.

Alternate Career Paths

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28%
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Higher risk than 29% of other occupations

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

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Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators

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Higher risk than 76% of other occupations

Sales Managers

25%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 20% of other occupations

Chief Executives

26%
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Higher risk than 23% of other occupations

General and Operations Managers

28%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 29% of other occupations

Marketing Managers

30%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 38% of other occupations

Advertising and Promotions Managers

31%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 43% of other occupations

Computer and Information Systems Managers

31%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 45% of other occupations

Subscribed — always updated

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

-1.3

overall change

Checking for existing plan...