If you're considering a career as an arborist or looking to take the next step in your current career, it's important to understand the job, career path, and salary potential. Massachusetts, Alaska, California, Rhode Island, and Oregon offer the highest salaries for arborists. No additional cash compensation has been reported for this role. The demand for arborists is increasing as municipalities plant more trees in urban areas.
As these trees grow, their branches can interfere with power lines and an arborist is needed to remove and prune them. All work on trees must be performed by a qualified arborist with a minimum AQF level of 3 in arboriculture. Very few arborists achieve the kind of fame that allows them to charge whatever they want for their services. Most climbing arborists will tell you that they loved playing in treehouses and climbing trees as a child.
Salary estimates are based on 156 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by an Arborist employee. The unfortunate reality is that most of the work needed on urban trees is caused by previous abuse from those who were paid to maintain them or by gardeners who care for the landscapes below. Arborists not only prune trees but also remove dead branches and trees that may be hanging over houses and other valuable property. If you're thinking about becoming an arborist or planning the next step in your career, find out more about an arborist's position, career path, and salary potential.