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Job Definition
Cut away dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs to maintain right-of-way for roads, sidewalks, or utilities, or to improve appearance, health, and value of tree. Prune or treat trees or shrubs using handsaws, pruning hooks, sheers, and clippers. May use truck-mounted lifts and power pruners. May fill cavities in trees to promote healing and prevent deterioration.
Job Zone

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.

Interests
Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Knowledge
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Skills
Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Equipment Selection - Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Tasks
Operate shredding and chipping equipment, and feed limbs and brush into the machines.
Plan and develop budgets for tree work, and estimate the monetary value of trees.
Cable, brace, tie, bolt, stake, and guy trees and branches to provide support.
Clear sites, streets, and grounds of woody and herbaceous materials, such as tree stumps and fallen trees and limbs.
Climb trees, using climbing hooks and belts, or climb ladders to gain access to work areas.
Collect debris and refuse from tree trimming and removal operations into piles, using shovels, rakes or other tools.
Cut away dead and excess branches from trees, or clear branches around power lines, using climbing equipment or buckets of extended truck booms, and/or chainsaws, hooks, handsaws, shears, and clippers.
Inspect trees to determine if they have diseases or pest problems.
Load debris and refuse onto trucks and haul it away for disposal.
Spray trees to treat diseased or unhealthy trees, including mixing chemicals and calibrating spray equipment.
Prune, cut down, fertilize, and spray trees as directed by tree surgeons.
Remove broken limbs from wires, using hooked extension poles.
Trim jagged stumps, using saws or pruning shears.
Trim, top, and reshape trees to achieve attractive shapes or to remove low-hanging branches.
Water, root-feed, and fertilize trees.
Wages

In 2008, the California average annual wage was $32,690.00.

Most people employed in this occupation were paid between $20,780.00 and $47,080.00.

Outlook

During 2006, there were approximately 5,400 people employed in this field in California. It is projected that there will be 6,000 employed in 2016. This occupation will have about 60 openings due to growth and about 70 replacement openings for approximately 130 total annual openings. This occupation .

Colleges and Training
There are currently no programs listed for this occupation.
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