Arborist Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an arborist. Feel free to use our arborist job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an arborist.
Who is an Arborist?
An Arborist is a professional in the practice of arboriculture which is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants in dendrology and horticulture. Arborists generally focus on the health and safety of individual plants and trees rather than managing forests or harvesting wood. Their scope of work is therefore distinct from that of either a forester or a logger. For arborists to work near power wires, additional training and certification are required. There are minimum distances that must be kept from power wires depending on voltage. Arborists who climb can use several techniques to ascend into the tree. The least invasive and most popular technique used is to ascend on a rope. An arborist’s work may involve very large and complex trees, or ecological communities and their abiotic components in the context of the landscape ecosystem. These may require monitoring and treatment to ensure they’re healthy, safe, and suitable to property owners or community standards. This work may include some or all of the following; planting, transplanting, pruning, structural support, preventing or diagnosing parasitism, preventing or interrupting grazing or predation, installing lightning protection, and removing vegetation deemed as hazardous.
An arborist may also plan, consult, write reports, and give legal testimony. While some aspects of the work are done on the ground or in the office, most of it is done by arborists who perform tree services and climb the trees with ropes, harnesses, and other equipment. Lifts and cranes may also be used. Arborists are landscapers who remove woody plants or trees; they use their physical climbing skills and knowledge of soil and tree biology to grow and maintain trees for landscaping companies, private clients, or government organizations. They protect trees from the threats of pests and diseases with pesticides and fertilizers. Similarly, they collect brush and dense wood from trees to be chipped and then sold as bark mulch. In addition, they participate in winter work that includes shoveling steps, roofs, and walkways. An aspiring arborist needs to complete and obtain a bachelor’s degree in fields like arboriculture, horticulture, or environmental conservation. An arborist who applies pesticides must be licensed and candidates can opt for apprenticeships under a licensed arborist before attaining their license as well as voluntary certification. This career is suitable for people who enjoy working outside and learning about the natural environment.
Arborists strive to improve the condition of shade, ornamental, and fruit trees so they continue growing safely. Sometimes, they are referred to as tree surgeons; they study, cultivate, and maintain healthy trees and shrubs to coexist with the environment and human-made structures. Arborists serve and play important roles in their communities by helping people enjoy the beauty and health benefits of having trees and plant life in their neighborhoods. Often, they collaborate with foresters to ensure an entire grove of trees is healthy but they tend to focus on the sustainability of individual trees. An arborist takes samples from trees and soil to diagnose any issues; then, they treat problems with pesticides or pruning. They use their physical strength and stamina to safely remove large tree limbs. He or she uses teamwork and problem-solving skills to carry out large-scale projects and anticipate how tree growth could impact the surrounding areas. They assess how much to remove to suit a client’s needs without killing the tree. They may also completely remove a tree if it has a disease that risks the health of nearby plants or poses a safety risk to nearby structures
Arborist Job Description
Below are the arborist job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an arborist job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of an arborist include the following:
- Trim and prune trees: One of the foremost responsibilities of an arborist is trimming and pruning trees, shrubs, and other woody plants. They frequently need to climb to a tree’s upper branches using ropes, harnesses, and ladders and they use hand and power tools to remove branches. This aspect of the job requires thorough knowledge of how to trim trees to encourage healthy growth along with the physical strength and dexterity to climb and move around tree branches.
- Apply pesticides: Arborists also prevent infestations and pest-related issues by applying pesticides to trees and shrubs. For this aspect of the job, they need to understand the potential risks and benefits of a particular type of pesticide and ensure that the pesticide they are applying will not have adverse effects on the surrounding environment. In some locations, an arborist needs special licensing to use pesticides.
- Remove and plant trees: In many cases, arborists also need to remove problematic trees. For example, a tree that is threatening structures or power lines may need to be removed rather than trimmed to prevent damage or property destruction. An arborist can supervise plantings, ensuring that new trees have room to grow without damaging neighboring areas and that selected tree species will thrive in the surrounding environment.
- Maintain soil conditions: In addition to caring for the trees, arborists also focus on maintaining soil conditions. This can include testing the soil acidity to make sure it is within an acceptable range for the tree type as well as maintaining moisture levels through regular watering and ensuring proper drainage. If the arborist removes a tree, they may also need to backfill the area or prepare the ground for future planting.
- Identify and treat tree diseases: An arborist uses their knowledge of tree anatomy and biology to identify and treat tree diseases. In this aspect of the role, the arborist identifies symptoms such as blights and fungal infections and determines whether a particular tree can be saved. If the infection appears to be limited to a single tree, the arborist may remove it and treat the soil while also examining surrounding trees for indicators of diseases.
- Consult with clients: Lastly, many arborists also provide consulting for homeowners, landscaping companies, and local governments on tree care and maintenance. These arborists prepare reports and provide advice and guidance on planting and tree placement, maintenance, removal, and disposal. They may also participate directly in the client’s tree maintenance, planting, and removal activities.
Qualifications
Arborist Education and Training: Although there are no formal education requirements for this role, many arborists have at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as biology, horticulture, or botany. Some schools also offer programs specifically focused on arboriculture that allow students to focus on tree care. Arborists can also enhance their employment prospects by achieving certification through the international society of arboriculture. There are many opportunities for on-the-job training in this role but most arborists begin their careers with some level of familiarity with tree care and botany.
Certification: Many employers prefer to hire arborists who have completed the arborist certification program from the international society of the arboriculture credentialing council. Eligibility includes three years of experience working with trees or an associate degree with at least two courses directly related to arboriculture and two years of experience.
Licensing: Most countries require that candidates possess an arborist license. For example, a license from the department of energy and environmental protection is required to work in the United States of America. Hence, research the country or state where you want to work to see if a license is required.
Professional bodies: Some employers prefer to hire candidates that belong to one professional body or another. Besides the international society for arborists that promotes the benefits of trees to societies, other relevant bodies exist. They offer online professional development courses as well as professional certification. An example of such bodies is the tree care industry association. This offers an extensive tree care academy of professional education options. It also runs the certified tree care society professional program for tree care safety professionals and accredits tree care companies for safety and adherence to industry standards.
Essential Skills
An arborist cares for trees through regular trimming, pruning, and soil care. Most arborists have at least a bachelor’s degree and the following skills;
- Tree trimming: Arborists should understand how to trim trees to promote healthy growth and prevent trees from damaging surrounding structures or utilities.
- Soil management: Soil health is central to maintaining healthy trees so an arborist should be familiar with balancing soil composition and maintaining correct moisture levels through watering and training.
- Physical strength and dexterity: Arborists frequently need to climb trees using ropes and harnesses; so they should have excellent upper-body strength and be dexterous enough to maneuver in and around trees.
- Math skills: In many cases, arborists need to calculate trimming and tree removal activities to prevent damage or injury, so they should have some familiarity with mathematics, statistics, and physics.
- Tree anatomy and history: An arborist also helps to diagnose diseases in trees and shrubs so they should be knowledgeable about tree anatomy and biology to identify issues.
- Communication skills: Since the arborist often meets and discusses with clients, he or she needs to develop and build excellent communication skills.
How to Become an Arborist
If you are interested in becoming an arborist, start your career path by completing these steps;
- Complete your education: Most employers expect you to have at least a high school diploma or GED. Some arborists have a higher degree while others have no formal education. Earning an associate degree in environmental science or a bachelor’s degree in forestry or horticulture can provide you with comprehensive education and help you grow your career as an arborist.
- Earn a federal or state license: At least seven countries require that you possess an arborist license. In the United Kingdom, for example, newly graduated arborists are required to seek approval from governing bodies before practicing.
- Get on-the-job training: Apply for entry-level jobs or consider applying for an internship or shadowing professionals at a tree care company. You can become familiar with the tools and procedures arborists use while learning about tree care from experienced professionals. As a beginning arborist, you will likely follow instructions from a team leader and perform hard labor, climbing into trees to trim them according to instructions. On-the-job training will also help you develop your knowledge base and ability to identify trees and diagnose problems.
- Learn basic arborist safety: Arborists come into contact with several hazards in the course of their work, so it is important to learn about the safety measures, first aid, and best practices for completing your work without risking your safety. Arborists work with power tools, heavy machinery, pesticides, and fertilizers that could injure them or cause a reaction when used improperly. Therefore, know-how to use protective gear to keep you safe and learn protocols for staying secure when climbing into a tall tree or working around power wires. Learn about the insects, wildlife, and poisonous plants you might encounter.
- Seek more responsibility: Once you have experience pruning and caring for trees, you can specialize as an arborist by seeking out more responsibility and looking for projects that interest you. Look for leadership opportunities at your current job where you can make decisions about tree care. Employers seek out arborists who have leadership and logistical experience in addition to tree care skills.
- Update your resume: Update your resume or curriculum vitae to include all certifications and skills. Your work experience section should contain all previous work you have done such as apprenticeship, voluntary work, and/or internship.
Where can an Arborist work?
Arborists work for municipalities, power companies, arborist firms, and large companies that do contract work for municipal governments and power companies. After gaining experience, some start their landscaping businesses. Arborists work across the world with more opportunities in warmer climates that have longer growing seasons and shorter winters. They spend most of their time working outdoors in all kinds of weather. Since they are in direct contact with trees, they may frequently experience minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings. They are also exposed to contaminants such as pesticides and fertilizers regularly.
Arborist Salary
Arborists make an average of $76,723 per year. An arborist’s salary depends on their experience level, employer, and the geographic area where they work. Many arborists own their landscaping companies or act as consultants.