Built Environment
Arborist
Urban trees need real expertise.
AI Risk Score: 3/10
Score is our body/liability/scarcity rubric, calibrated against public AI-exposure research.
Data last reviewed: 2026-02-25
What you actually do
Assess, maintain, and manage trees for safety, health, and municipal compliance.
Why AI does not easily replace it
Risk assessment, climbing work, and environmental context demand embodied skill.
What it pays
$42,000 - $71,000
BLS OOH: Grounds Maintenance Workers (includes tree trimmers/arborists) — Arborist pay benchmarked using tree trimmers and pruners subgroup.
Salary benchmark year: 2024
How to get in
Field experience + ISA certification.
Estimated time to entry: ~12 months (path-dependent).
State-by-state training and licensing links
- Apprenticeship.gov: Registered apprenticeship job finder
- Apprenticeship.gov: State apprenticeship offices
Where demand is growing
Climate resilience and city canopy programs add demand.
Ready to explore?
Compare this career in the full directory, or run the exposure calculator against your current role.
"The moat is not a prompt. It is responsibility in the real world."