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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. Excludes workers who primarily perform duties of "Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation" (37-3012) and "Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers" (37-3011).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40,680 | 6.2 % | $17.94 | $37,310 | 1.4 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $11.03 | $13.51 | $16.84 | $21.79 | $27.39 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $22,950 | $28,100 | $35,030 | $45,330 | $56,970 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | 35,340 | 1.70 | $17.38 | $36,160 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 2,630 | 0.05 | $23.70 | $49,300 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 1,130 | 0.29 | $20.72 | $43,090 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 460 | 0.07 | $16.11 | $33,520 |
| Employment Services | 200 | 0.01 | $16.49 | $34,290 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | 35,340 | 1.70 | $17.38 | $36,160 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 1,130 | 0.29 | $20.72 | $43,090 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 460 | 0.07 | $16.11 | $33,520 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 2,630 | 0.05 | $23.70 | $49,300 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 170 | 0.01 | $21.88 | $45,510 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 50 | (7) | $26.83 | $55,810 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 2,630 | 0.05 | $23.70 | $49,300 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 100 | (7) | $23.14 | $48,120 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 170 | 0.01 | $21.88 | $45,510 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 1,130 | 0.29 | $20.72 | $43,090 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 6,570 | 0.41 | 1.42 | $19.87 | $41,320 |
| Texas | 4,300 | 0.37 | 1.26 | $15.21 | $31,630 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,800 | 0.49 | 1.68 | $15.70 | $32,660 |
| North Carolina | 2,370 | 0.56 | 1.93 | $16.22 | $33,740 |
| Florida | 1,790 | 0.22 | 0.75 | $13.72 | $28,540 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 260 | 0.85 | 2.93 | $17.51 | $36,420 |
| South Dakota | 280 | 0.68 | 2.35 | $15.55 | $32,340 |
| New Hampshire | 420 | 0.66 | 2.27 | $19.81 | $41,190 |
| North Carolina | 2,370 | 0.56 | 1.93 | $16.22 | $33,740 |
| Maryland | 1,470 | 0.56 | 1.93 | $19.93 | $41,460 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 120 | 0.37 | 1.29 | $27.32 | $56,820 |
| District of Columbia | 30 | 0.05 | 0.17 | $26.64 | $55,410 |
| Montana | 50 | 0.12 | 0.40 | $24.05 | $50,010 |
| Massachusetts | 1,080 | 0.31 | 1.08 | $23.72 | $49,340 |
| Illinois | 510 | 0.09 | 0.30 | $23.41 | $48,690 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,060 | 0.25 | 0.86 | $24.10 | $50,120 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 920 | 0.68 | 2.36 | $18.37 | $38,220 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 910 | 0.67 | 2.30 | $15.61 | $32,460 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 850 | 0.13 | 0.45 | $19.64 | $40,850 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 650 | 1.07 | 3.70 | $12.78 | $26,580 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 590 | 0.56 | 1.93 | $25.06 | $52,120 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 580 | 0.23 | 0.81 | $23.88 | $49,660 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 500 | 0.43 | 1.50 | $16.23 | $33,750 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 490 | 0.19 | 0.66 | $16.54 | $34,400 |
| Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 410 | 0.26 | 0.90 | $17.24 | $35,850 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | 120 | 1.08 | 3.73 | $25.39 | $52,820 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 650 | 1.07 | 3.70 | $12.78 | $26,580 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 40 | 0.75 | 2.58 | $19.07 | $39,660 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 240 | 0.71 | 2.45 | $12.02 | $25,000 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 920 | 0.68 | 2.36 | $18.37 | $38,220 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 910 | 0.67 | 2.30 | $15.61 | $32,460 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 590 | 0.56 | 1.93 | $25.06 | $52,120 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 110 | 0.55 | 1.88 | $15.63 | $32,520 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 500 | 0.43 | 1.50 | $16.23 | $33,750 |
| Knoxville, TN | 160 | 0.41 | 1.42 | $15.06 | $31,330 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | (8) | (8) | (8) | $30.00 | $62,400 |
| San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $26.89 | $55,940 |
| Asheville, NC | (8) | (8) | (8) | $26.81 | $55,770 |
| Framingham, MA NECTA Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $26.60 | $55,320 |
| Newark, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division | 50 | 0.04 | 0.14 | $26.53 | $55,180 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 120 | 1.08 | 3.73 | $25.39 | $52,820 |
| Camden, NJ Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $25.34 | $52,710 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $25.22 | $52,460 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 290 | 0.08 | 0.27 | $25.10 | $52,220 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 590 | 0.56 | 1.93 | $25.06 | $52,120 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.36 | 1.25 | $14.44 | $30,030 |
| Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.79 | 2.73 | $12.88 | $26,790 |
| South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.23 | 0.78 | $17.31 | $36,000 |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.36 | 1.24 | $23.34 | $48,550 |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.24 | 0.84 | $23.17 | $48,190 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.79 | 2.73 | $12.88 | $26,790 |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.36 | 1.24 | $23.34 | $48,550 |
| Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.36 | 1.25 | $14.44 | $30,030 |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.24 | 0.84 | $23.17 | $48,190 |
| South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.23 | 0.78 | $17.31 | $36,000 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.36 | 1.24 | $23.34 | $48,550 |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.24 | 0.84 | $23.17 | $48,190 |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $22.58 | $46,960 |
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $22.45 | $46,690 |
| Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $20.64 | $42,940 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2016 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2017