Skip to content

Prototype—not an official NYS Department of Labor service

Start over

Tree Trimmers and Pruners

The short answer

This job is less likely to change much. Most of the work is the kind AI can't help with. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to grow over the next decade, with about 699 openings expected each year.

Step 1

Where your job stands

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the least exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. Most of what it involves isn't the kind of work AI can take over.

How much AI could touch this job

Least exposedband 1 of 5
least exposedmost exposed

Looking at the job itself, AI could help with a small part of this job's tasks.

What this means

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the least exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.

Step 2

What AI can and can’t help with in this job

This job is in the least exposed fifth of New York jobs for AI exposure. The tasks below show why: most of what it involves is work AI can't simply take over.

AI can help with or automate about 8% of the tasks in this job.

Tasks AI can help with or automate

  1. Plan and develop budgets for tree work, and estimate the monetary value of trees.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  2. Provide information to the public regarding trees, such as advice on tree care.

    AI could do much of this on its own

Tasks AI can't do much of

  1. Operate shredding and chipping equipment, and feed limbs and brush into the machines.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  2. Operate boom trucks, loaders, stump chippers, brush chippers, tractors, power saws, trucks, sprayers, and other equipment and tools.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  3. Cut away dead and excess branches from trees, or clear branches around power lines, using climbing equipment or buckets of extended truck booms, or chainsaws, hooks, handsaws, shears, and clippers.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  4. Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  5. Hoist tools and equipment to tree trimmers, and lower branches with ropes or block and tackle.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

Step 3

Jobs you could switch to

If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.

See related jobs in

The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.

  • Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

    Similar work
    +30% pay1,580 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 30% more—$83,178 vs your $63,981 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Control Precision
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Reaction Time
    • Mechanical
    • Operation and Control

    Your current skills largely cover this move.

  • Riggers

    Somewhat similar work
    +70% pay90 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 70% more—$108,583 vs your $63,981 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Mechanical
    • Control Precision
    • Multilimb Coordination

    New skills to build

    • Design
    • Building and Construction
    • Engineering and Technology
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Mathematics