How much do arborists make in 2026?
Arborists are counted in the BLS tree trimmers and pruners series: OEWS May 2025 gives the SOC 37-3013 national median as $50,960 a year ($24.50 an hour), with the bottom 10% near $37,940 and the top 10% at $80,310. The series pools general tree work with professional arboriculture, so a certified arborist typically sits in its upper half. Three things do that lifting. ISA certification is the recognised professional credential and is often specified by municipalities and insurers for assessment and specification work. Utility line clearance is a distinct and better-paid discipline requiring electrical hazard training, because the crews work within specified approach distances of energised conductors. And consulting arboriculture — tree risk assessment, preservation plans for development sites, expert reports — is paid for judgement rather than production, which is why it sits at the top of the band. Employment is projected to grow 3.3% through 2034 with roughly 7,400 openings a year. → Full arborist career guide, career path, credentials & placement →
Note: $50,960 blends every experience level and every setting in this occupation. For pay by level alone, see Pay by Level below.
- Arborists earn a national median $50,960/yr ($24.50/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 37-3013); the P10 to P90 range is $37,940 to $80,310.
- BLS pools professional arboriculture with general tree trimming in SOC 37-3013, so certified arborists sit in the upper half of the $37,940 to $80,310 band.
- Utility line clearance is a separate, better-paid discipline requiring electrical hazard training and approach-distance qualification.
- Consulting work — tree risk assessment, preservation plans and expert reports — is paid for judgement rather than production and sits at the top of the range.
US Arborist Pay Distribution · BLS OEWS May 2025
Pay by Level · BLS OEWS May 2025
How much do arborists earn at each level?
BLS OEWS publishes one blended wage for the whole occupation and does not break pay out by credential or practice level. The levels below distribute the published percentile range across the credential tiers this role actually hires at.
Level medians are aligned to the BLS OEWS May 2025 percentile distribution for SOC 37-3013; GlobalCybers does not yet publish a verified placement sample for this role, so no verified median is shown.
Methodology & Sources
How the numbers on this page are built
Published (BLS): BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 37-3013, United States national estimate. Public, methodologically rigorous, but sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection — so it reflects wages that are already 1–2 years old by the time you read them.
Level and certification medians: distributed across the published BLS percentile range for this SOC code (P10 through P90) according to the credential tiers this occupation actually hires at. They are modeled reference points, not separately surveyed wages.
State and metro figures: modeled — the BLS national median multiplied by the GlobalCybers state wage index, and for metros by the published metro index for that state. They are estimates of local pay, not BLS state or metropolitan-area observations, and are labelled as modeled in the tables below.
No verified placement sample:GlobalCybers does not yet publish a placement median for this role, so no "verified" figure appears anywhere on this page.
Pay by Career Level
How much does an arborist earn at each career stage?
Arborist pay follows certification, climbing and rigging competency, and whether you assess trees or only cut them. Each median is anchored to the BLS OEWS distribution for SOC 37-3013.
By State
Which states pay arborists the most in 2026?
These are modeled state estimates — the BLS national median scaled by the GlobalCybers state wage index — not BLS state observations. Local rules matter more than usual: some states license tree care or arborist businesses, pesticide application for tree health work requires state applicator certification, and utility vegetation management programmes — largest in wildfire-exposed and storm-prone states — create the best-paid crew work. Municipal tree ordinances also generate certified assessment work.
6 of 51 state guides shown, ranked by median. Bar is relative to California ($58,600), the highest-paying state shown. See all role salary guides →
By Metro
Which cities pay arborists the most?
Modeled metro estimates: the national median scaled by the state wage index and then by that state's published metro index. They estimate local wage levels and are not BLS metropolitan-area observations.
BLS OEWS MSA estimates, May 2025. Nominal pay — weigh each metro against its cost of living before relocating.
Certification Impact
Which certifications raise an arborist’s pay the most?
Median annual pay before and after each credential, based on GlobalCybers placement data cross-referenced with BLS. License upgrades move the needle most; stackable certs add on top.
Impacts are not additive, the licensing rows share the same career ladder. Browse all 167 certifications →
Trade Comparison
How does arborist pay compare to related roles?
BLS OEWS national median across the closest trades. Arborists sit mid-pack on median but carry one of the widest P10–P90 spreads, licensing and specialization drive the upside.
BLS OEWS May 2025. Verify arborist wages on BLS.gov →
Take-Home Pay
What does an arborist actually take home after taxes?
The medians above are gross base wage.
Estimates use 2026 federal brackets, standard deduction, and 7.65% FICA. Actual take-home varies with filing status, deductions, and local tax.
FAQ
Arborist Salary, Frequently Asked Questions
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