Tree Trimmers and Pruners Salary
In Washington, tree trimmers and pruners earn $63,850 at the median, or about $30.7 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $62,592 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 41.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in Washington?
About tree trimmers and pruners
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for tree trimmers and pruners, local pay runs about 25% higher than the U.S. median of $51K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 41.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level tree trimmers and pruners (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Tree Trimmers and Pruners salary by metro in Washington
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $68K | +7% | 310 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $50K | -22% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track tree trimmers and pruners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a tree trimmers and pruner afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 41.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for tree trimmers and pruners in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tree trimmers and pruners typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,672/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 68% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is tree trimmers and pruner a high-paying job in Washington?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $64K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for tree trimmers and pruners?
Washington pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do tree trimmers and pruners make in Washington?
The median is $63,850 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,530, and experienced tree trimmers and pruners can clear $93,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,442/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 41.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a tree trimmers and pruners salary go in Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median tree trimmers and pruners salary is worth about $62,592 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tree trimmers and pruners get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.