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Tree Trimming Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

Trimmer Trainee with CDL

Rochester, NY ยท On-site

$24.93 - $30.67/hr

... tree trimming and line clearing operations, assisting and supporting vegetation management for utility partners. * Assist with ground-level vegetation management around power lines (Tree pruning ...

... tree trimming and line clearing operations, assisting and supporting vegetation management for utility partners. * Assist with ground-level vegetation management around power lines (Tree pruning ...

Perform tree trimming, pruning, and removal tasks following industry best practices. * Safely operate chainsaws, rigging gear, aerial lifts, and other equipment. * Assess tree health and determine ...

Climber

Rochester, NY ยท On-site

$26 - $36/hr

Perform tree trimming, pruning, and removal tasks following industry best practices. * Safely operate chainsaws, rigging gear, aerial lifts, and other equipment. * Assess tree health and determine ...

Perform and direct tree trimming, removal, and clearance near energized lines using climbing or aerial lift techniques. * Operate and oversee use of equipment, including trucks, chippers, aerial ...

Perform and direct tree trimming, removal, and clearance near energized lines using climbing or aerial lift techniques. * Operate and oversee use of equipment, including trucks, chippers, aerial ...

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Tree Trimming information

See Rochester, NY salary details

$13

$25

$37

How much do tree trimming jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for tree trimming in Rochester, NY is $25.11, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.07 and $32.74 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much do tree trimmers make in the US?

Tree trimmers in the US typically earn a median hourly wage of around $16 to $20, which equates to approximately $33,000 to $41,000 annually for full-time work. Wages can vary based on experience, certifications, and geographic location, with some earning higher wages in urban or high-demand areas. The job often requires physical strength, knowledge of safety procedures, and the use of tools like chainsaws and climbing gear.

What are some common safety challenges faced by tree trimming professionals, and how are they addressed on the job?

Tree trimming professionals frequently encounter safety challenges such as working at heights, handling sharp equipment, and dealing with unpredictable tree conditions. To address these, teams follow strict safety protocols such as wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), using harnesses and ropes, and conducting site assessments before starting work. Many employers also provide ongoing safety training and emphasize teamwork to ensure everyone looks out for potential hazards. Adhering to these practices helps minimize risks and promotes a safe work environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a tree trimmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Tree Trimmer, you need knowledge of tree biology, safe pruning techniques, and physical fitness, often supported by a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Familiarity with chainsaws, climbing gear, chippers, and sometimes certifications like ISA Certified Tree Worker are typical requirements. Strong communication, attention to detail, and a commitment to safety help individuals excel in this role. These skills ensure proper tree care, personal safety, and efficient teamwork in potentially hazardous outdoor environments.

What is the difference between Tree Trimming vs Tree Pruning?

AspectTree TrimmingTree Pruning
PurposeMaintain shape, remove dead or overgrown branchesImprove health, remove diseased or damaged parts
TechniquesCutting back branches to shapeSelective removal of specific parts for health
ToolsSaws, shears, pruning toolsSaws, pruning shears, loppers
Work EnvironmentOutdoor, often in residential or commercial landscapesOutdoor, often in landscape management or arboriculture

Tree Trimming focuses on shaping and maintaining the appearance of trees, while Tree Pruning emphasizes health and safety by removing diseased or damaged parts. Both require similar skills and tools, but their goals differ, making them distinct yet related tasks in tree care.

What is a tree trimmer?

Tree trimmers, also known as arborists or tree pruners, are professionals who specialize in pruning, cutting, and removing branches from trees to improve their health, safety, and appearance. They use specialized equipment to assess tree health, remove dead or hazardous limbs, and shape trees according to landscape requirements. Tree trimmers also ensure that trees do not interfere with utilities or pose risks to property and people. Their work can involve climbing trees, using chainsaws, and following safety protocols to protect themselves and the environment.
What are the most commonly searched types of Tree Trimming jobs in Rochester, NY? The most popular types of Tree Trimming jobs in Rochester, NY are:
What are popular job titles related to Tree Trimming jobs in Rochester, NY? For Tree Trimming jobs in Rochester, NY, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Tree Trimming jobs in Rochester, NY look for? The top searched job categories for Tree Trimming jobs in Rochester, NY are:
What cities near Rochester, NY are hiring for Tree Trimming jobs? Cities near Rochester, NY with the most Tree Trimming job openings:
Infographic showing various Tree Trimming job openings in Rochester, NY as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 69% Full Time, 26% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $52,228 per year, or $25.1 per hour.

Trimmer Trainee with CDL

Lewis Tree Service

Rochester, NY โ€ข On-site

$24.93 - $30.67/hr

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago


Job description

Overview
Join a Company That Grows People
At Lewis, we're not just trimming trees - we're building a future. As the second-largest utility vegetation management company in North America and a proud employee-owned business, we believe every person on our team matters. When you join Lewis, you're not just taking a job - you're investing in your future.
Why You'll Love It Here
  • Experience the great outdoors while working in nature, not stuck behind a desk!
  • Elevate your career with us - we prioritize training and internal promotions!
  • Join a vibrant team that champions safety, values your feedback, and fosters a strong sense of camaraderie!

Responsibilities
What You'll Do as a Trimmer Trainee
As a Trimmer Trainee at Lewis Services, you will develop the necessary skills to support our tree crews with tree trimming and line clearing operations, assisting and supporting vegetation management for utility partners.
  • Assist with ground-level vegetation management around power lines (Tree pruning, vegetation removal, lifting logs, dragging brush, assisting climbers, hand up tools, using hand lines, etc.)
  • Prune, remove branches, and lift logs, while climbing or using an aerial lift, under direct supervision (After proper training and demonstration of expertise).
  • Support crews with site prep, equipment setup, and jobsite cleanup.
  • Operate and maintain tools like chainsaws, chippers, sprayers, and ropes.
  • Assist with rigging and felling of trees
  • Apply herbicides (with proper certification) to manage growth
  • Load/unload trucks and hike through challenging terrain carrying gear.
  • Help with traffic control and public safety at the jobsite.
  • Participate in daily job briefings and safety meetings.
  • Travel to multiple worksites, including occasional overnight stays.
  • Learn and follow all safety, environmental, and operational procedures.
  • Drive and operate trucks and other equipment as assigned (With appropriate certifications)

Qualifications
What You Bring
  • Minimum 6 months of experience working on tree crews as a Groundperson or Driver.
  • Willingness to work at heights and learn climbing/aerial lift techniques.
  • Understanding basic tree identification and vegetation management practices.
  • Trimmer Trainee Technical Knowledge and Skills Certification (or ability to complete).
  • Valid driver's license, CDL, and medical certification as required.
  • CPR and First Aid certified (provided by Lewis).
  • Acquire and keep the required training and licenses for the safe and proper use of herbicides.
  • Strong work ethic, team mindset, and commitment to learning safely.
  • Ensure compliance with all applicable state, local, and federal regulations.

Physical Demands
Ability to:
  • Lift 50 lbs. to shoulder height or higher
  • Push or pull up to 50 lbs.
  • Walk or hike up to one mile on uneven terrain
  • Endure extreme climate variances (e.g., severe cold to high heat and humidity)
  • Hear, speak, see, and communicate effectively
  • Operate two-handed tools and equipment

Continuously - Standing, Walking, Handling/Grasping, Repetitive Movements.
Frequently - Lifting/Carrying, Pushing/Pulling, Stooping/Kneeling, Reaching.
Occasionally - Driving, Climbing Stairs/Ladders.
Rarely - Tree Ascending/Descending
Comments: You should expect variability in size, proportions, conditions, and weights of supplies, equipment, and work conditions.
Environmental Conditions:
Continuously - Outdoor work
Occasionally - Noise Levels
Frequently - Extreme Temperatures
Rarely - Contact with hazardous materials or air quality issues
Never - Confined Spaces
Comments: You should expect variability based on regional weather patterns. Personal protective equipment is required to be worn by OSHA and ANSI.
Tools & Equipment
Equipment may include:
  • Aerial lift trucks, dump trucks, ATVs
  • Chainsaws, pole saws, handsaws, chippers
  • Blowers, pruners, rakes, winches, ropes
  • Climbing gear: harness, chaps, spikes
  • Sprayers, herbicides, fuel, cones, signs
  • Tablets and communication devices
What We Offer
Union Benefits
  • Competitive pay ($24.93-30.67/hour)
  • Paid training and certifications.
  • Career advancement opportunities
  • Local 1249 Benefits
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

People Promise
Our People Promise
Our commitment to Our People is key to the success of our business. We respect the differences between us, and we leverage those differences to create an environment where all employees feel welcome and fairly treated. We seek the best solutions possible by attracting and engaging a diverse workforce where all perspectives are sought out and valued.
Lewis Tree Service is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity for both applicants and employees. Lewis Tree Service prohibits unlawful discrimination or harassment of employees and applicants based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age (40+), religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic, all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, apprenticeship, promotion, demotion, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment. Lewis Tree Service's practices and policies are administered under applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Spanish Posting
รšnase a una empresa que fomenta el crecimiento de las personas
En Lewis, no solo podamos รกrboles, construimos un futuro. Como la segunda empresa de mayor tamaรฑo de gestiรณn de servicios y vegetaciรณn en Norteamรฉrica y una orgullosa empresa propiedad de sus empleados, creemos que cada persona de nuestro equipo es importante. Cuando se incorpora a Lewis, no solo comienza un trabajo, invierte en su futuro.
Por quรฉ le encantarรก trabajar aquรญ
  • ยกExperimente un maravilloso entorno al aire libre mientras trabaja en la naturaleza, no quede atrapado detrรกs de un escritorio!
  • Eleve su carrera profesional con nosotros. ยกPriorizamos la capacitaciรณn y las promociones internas!
  • ยกรšnase a un equipo vibrante que es pionero en seguridad, valora su opiniรณn y fomenta un fuerte sentido de la camaraderรญa!

Sus funciones como Podador Aprendiz
Como Podador Aprendiz en Lewis Services, desarrollarรก las habilidades necesarias para apoyar a nuestras cuadrillas en operaciones de poda de รกrboles y despeje de lรญneas elรฉctricas, colaborarรก y apoyarรก la gestiรณn de vegetaciรณn para los socios de servicios pรบblicos.
  • Colaborar con la gestiรณn de la vegetaciรณn a nivel del suelo alrededor de lรญneas elรฉctricas (poda de รกrboles, eliminaciรณn de vegetaciรณn, levantamiento de troncos, arrastre de maleza, asistencia a escaladores, levantamiento de herramientas manuales, uso de lรญneas manuales, etc.)
  • Podar, quitar ramas y levantar troncos, mientras trepa o utiliza una plataforma aรฉrea, bajo supervisiรณn directa (despuรฉs de la capacitaciรณn adecuada y demostraciรณn de experiencia).
  • Apoyar a las cuadrillas con la preparaciรณn del sitio, la instalaciรณn del equipo y la limpieza del lugar de trabajo.
  • Operar y mantener herramientas como motosierras, astilladoras, pulverizadores y cuerdas.
  • Ayudar con el aparejo y la tala de รกrboles.
  • Aplicar herbicidas (con la certificaciรณn adecuada) para controlar el crecimiento.
  • Cargar/descargar camiones y caminar por terrenos difรญciles transportando equipo.
  • Ayudar con el control del trรกfico y la seguridad pรบblica en el lugar de trabajo.
  • Participar en reuniones diarias de trabajo y seguridad.
  • Viajar a mรบltiples lugares de trabajo, incluidos pernoctes ocasionales.
  • Aprender y seguir todos los procedimientos de seguridad, ambientales y operativos.
  • Conducir y operar camiones y otros equipos segรบn se le asigne (con las certificaciones correspondientes)

Lo que usted aporta
  • Mรญnimo de 6 meses de experiencia en el trabajo en cuadrillas de poda de รกrboles como operario de asistencia terrestre o conductor.
  • Disposiciรณn para trabajar en alturas y aprender tรฉcnicas de escalada/plataformas aรฉreas.
  • Comprensiรณn de la identificaciรณn bรกsica de รกrboles y las prรกcticas de gestiรณn de vegetaciรณn.
  • Certificaciรณn de conocimientos y habilidades tรฉcnicas del podador aprendiz (o capacidad para completar estos requisitos).
  • Licencia de conducir vรกlida, CDL y certificaciรณn mรฉdica segรบn se requiera.
  • Certificaciรณn en RCP y primeros auxilios (proporcionado por Lewis).
  • Obtener y mantener la capacitaciรณn y las licencias necesarias para el uso seguro y adecuado de herbicidas.
  • Sรณlida รฉtica de trabajo, mentalidad de equipo y compromiso con el aprendizaje seguro.
  • Garantizar el cumplimiento de todas las reglamentaciones locales, estatales y federales aplicables.

Demandas fรญsicas
Capacidad para las siguientes actividades:
  • Levantar 50 libras hasta la altura de los hombros o mรกs arriba.
  • Empujar o tirar hasta 50 libras.
  • Caminar hasta una milla por terrenos irregulares.
  • Soportar variaciones climรกticas extremas (por ejemplo, de frรญo intenso a calor y humedad elevados).
  • Escuchar, hablar, ver y comunicarse de manera efectiva.
  • Operar herramientas y equipos con las dos manos.

De forma continua: estar de pie, caminar, manipular/sujetar, realizar movimientos repetitivos.
Con frecuencia: levantar/llevar, empujar/tirar, agacharse/arrodillarse, alcanzar.
En ocasiones: conducir, subir escaleras fijas/plegables.
Rara vez: subir/bajar de รกrboles
Comentarios: Debe esperar una variabilidad en el tamaรฑo, proporciones, condiciones y pesos de los suministros al igual que en los equipos y las condiciones de trabajo.
Condiciones ambientales:
De forma continua: trabajo al aire libre
En ocasiones: niveles de ruido
Con frecuencia: temperaturas extremas
Rara vez: contacto con materiales peligrosos o problemas de calidad del aire
Nunca: espacios confinados
Comentarios: Debe esperar una variabilidad con base en los patrones climรกticos regionales. Se requiere que el equipo de protecciรณn personal se use segรบn la Administraciรณn de Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional (OSHA) y el Instituto Nacional Estadounidense de Estรกndares (ANSI).
Herramientas y equipos
  • Los equipos pueden incluir lo siguiente:
  • Camiones con plataforma aรฉrea, camiones volquete, vehรญculos todo terreno
  • Motosierras, sierras de pรฉrtiga, sierras de mano, astilladoras
  • Sopladores, podadoras, rastrillos, cabrestantes, cuerdas
  • Equipo de escalada: arnรฉs, correas, pรบas
  • Pulverizadores, herbicidas, combustible, conos, carteles
  • Tabletas y dispositivos de comunicaciรณn

Lo que ofrecemos
Beneficios sindicales
  • Pago competitivo ($24.93-30.67/hour)
  • Capacitaciones y certificaciones remuneradas
  • Oportunidades de progreso en la carrera profesional
  • Beneficios locales 1249
  • Programa de Asistencia al Empleado (EAP)

Compromiso con nuestra gente
El compromiso con nuestra gente es la clave del รฉxito de nuestro negocio. Respetamos las diferencias entre nosotros, y aprovechamos esas diferencias para crear un entorno donde todos los empleados se sientan bienvenidos y tratados con justicia. Buscamos las mejores soluciones posibles al atraer e involucrar a una fuerza laboral diversa donde se busquen y valoren todas las perspectivas.
Lewis Tree Service es un empleador que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades de empleo y se compromete a brindar igualdad de oportunidades tanto a los candidatos como a los empleados. Lewis Tree Service prohรญbe la discriminaciรณn ilegal o el acoso de empleados y candidatos por motivos de raza, credo, color, nacionalidad, sexo, edad (mayores de 40 aรฑos), religiรณn, discapacidad, estado civil, orientaciรณn sexual, informaciรณn genรฉtica, estado de ciudadanรญa, estado de veterano o cualquier otra condiciรณn legal protegida, todas las decisiones de empleo, incluidas, entre otras, el reclutamiento, la contrataciรณn, la compensaciรณn, la capacitaciรณn, el aprendizaje, la promociรณn, la degradaciรณn, la transferencia, el despido y la terminaciรณn, y todos los demรกs tรฉrminos y condiciones de empleo. Las prรกcticas y polรญticas de Lewis Tree Service se administran en virtud de las leyes locales, estatales y federales aplicables.