Jobs Similar to Tree Trimmers and Pruners
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to tree trimmers and pruners, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners, Earth Drillers and Recycling and Reclamation Workers.
Tree Trimmers and Pruners: $50,960 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Tree Trimmers and Pruners) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 80% | $49,880−2% | High school |
| 2 | Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | 80% | $60,190+18% | High school |
| 3 | Recycling and Reclamation Workers | 79% | $40,240Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 4 | Hazardous Materials Removal Workers | 78% | $49,450−3% | High school |
| 5 | Logging Equipment Operators | 78% | $49,740−2% | High school |
| 6 | Helpers--Extraction Workers | 77% | $47,730−6% | High school |
| 7 | Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | 77% | $60,600+19% | High school |
| 8 | Roof Bolters, Mining | 77% | $78,540+54% | High school |
| 9 | Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | 77% | $46,960−8% | High school |
| 10 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | 77% | $59,850+17% | High school |
| 11 | Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | 77% | $49,690−2% | High school |
| 12 | Rock Splitters, Quarry | 77% | $48,740−4% | High school |
| 13 | Hoist and Winch Operators | 77% | $56,450+11% | High school |
| 14 | Tire Repairers and Changers | 77% | $37,710−26% | High school |
| 15 | Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | 77% | $57,430+13% | High school |
| 16 | Locomotive Engineers | 77% | $81,410+60% | High school |
| 17 | Dredge Operators | 76% | $49,640−3% | High school |
| 18 | Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | 76% | $49,120−4% | High school |
| 19 | Motorboat Operators | 76% | $47,520−7% | High school |
| 20 | Fallers | 76% | $52,100+2% | High school |
- 1Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
80% similar · $49,880 (−2%) · High school
- 2Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
80% similar · $60,190 (+18%) · High school
- 3Recycling and Reclamation Workers
79% similar · $40,240 (broader group) · High school
- 4Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
78% similar · $49,450 (−3%) · High school
- 5Logging Equipment Operators
78% similar · $49,740 (−2%) · High school
- 6Helpers--Extraction Workers
77% similar · $47,730 (−6%) · High school
- 7Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
77% similar · $60,600 (+19%) · High school
- 8Roof Bolters, Mining
77% similar · $78,540 (+54%) · High school
- 9Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
77% similar · $46,960 (−8%) · High school
- 10Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
77% similar · $59,850 (+17%) · High school
- 11Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
77% similar · $49,690 (−2%) · High school
- 12Rock Splitters, Quarry
77% similar · $48,740 (−4%) · High school
- 13Hoist and Winch Operators
77% similar · $56,450 (+11%) · High school
- 14Tire Repairers and Changers
77% similar · $37,710 (−26%) · High school
- 15Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
77% similar · $57,430 (+13%) · High school
- 16Locomotive Engineers
77% similar · $81,410 (+60%) · High school
- 17Dredge Operators
76% similar · $49,640 (−3%) · High school
- 18Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
76% similar · $49,120 (−4%) · High school
- 19Motorboat Operators
76% similar · $47,520 (−7%) · High school
- 20Fallers
76% similar · $52,100 (+2%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than tree trimmers and pruners.
- Locomotive Engineers77% similar · $81,410 (+60%)
- Roof Bolters, Mining77% similar · $78,540 (+54%)
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers77% similar · $60,600 (+19%)
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas80% similar · $60,190 (+18%)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators77% similar · $59,850 (+17%)
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining77% similar · $57,430 (+13%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for tree trimmers and pruners also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where tree trimmers and pruners is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Fallers (86)
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (80)
- Recycling and Reclamation Workers (79)
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (78)
- Logging Equipment Operators (78)
- Forest and Conservation Workers (77)
- Helpers--Extraction Workers (77)
- Hoist and Winch Operators (77)
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (77)
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas (77)
Questions about jobs like tree trimmers and pruners
What jobs are most similar to tree trimmers and pruners?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (80% similar), Earth Drillers (80% similar), Recycling and Reclamation Workers (79% similar), Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (78% similar) and Logging Equipment Operators (78% similar).
Which jobs like tree trimmers and pruners pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Locomotive Engineers ($81,410, +60%; usually a high school diploma), Roof Bolters ($78,540, +54%; usually a high school diploma) and Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers ($60,600, +19%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with tree trimmers and pruners ($50,960). Without more preparation than tree trimmers and pruners usually need: Locomotive Engineers, Roof Bolters and Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.