Start here: tree work in the United States

This page points to the right official body for each question and to the other guides on this site. It describes what those bodies say. It is not legal advice. Each section ends with where to read more.

Who sets the safety rules

The federal safety agency is OSHA. Its page on standards for tree care says the tree care industry must comply with all the general industry standards in 29 CFR 1910. The same page says state plans may have different or more stringent requirements than OSHA's.

On its state plans page, OSHA says there are 22 State Plans covering both private sector and state and local government workers, and seven covering only state and local government workers. Which one applies depends on the state where the work is done.

ANSI Z133 is the voluntary industry safety standard. ISA's release notice says the 2026 edition became available on May 27, 2026, and that the digital version is a free PDF for individual use. The detail is in safety rules by country and the power lines guide.

Tickets and licenses

Employers often ask for a credential from a private body. ISA's credentials page says a certification is a voluntary program run by a non-governmental organization. This site does not say any certificate is required by law to climb.

A few states do license tree work themselves. The Connecticut statutes, in chapter 451, say no person shall advertise, solicit or contract to do arboriculture within the state without a license. Louisiana's arborist licensing page says arborist licenses are required if you work on trees for a fee. Other states have their own rules.

Pesticide work has its own state licensing. See certifications by country and pesticide licenses by country.

Associations

Body	What its page says	Page
ISA	Professional membership is open to people working in arboriculture and costs US$135	ISA membership types
TCIA	Says it is the largest and longest running non-profit trade association for tree care, advancing tree care businesses since 1938	TCIA membership page

ISA also works through state and regional chapters. The associations and reading guide lists them with the fees each chapter prints.

Where official pay figures live

The federal job code for tree trimmers and pruners is 37-3013. The career database O*NET reprints the federal wage data on its tree trimmers and pruners wage page. The page showed a national median of US$50,960 a year, with a low of US$37,940 and a high of US$80,310. Low is the tenth percentile and high is the ninetieth. The page said the site was updated on August 25, 2026, and it has a page for each state.

More states side by side are in the pay guide. For crews that find work through this site, see the jobs page, which holds sample listings only.

Reporting a tree pest

The federal agency is USDA APHIS. Its Asian longhorned beetle page says people in New York, Massachusetts, Ohio and South Carolina can use its online reporting form, and that residents of all other states should contact their State plant health officials. Other pests have their own pages. The pests and diseases guide covers more, and moving wood and firewood covers the rules on moving it.

Reporting a safety problem

On its complaint page, OSHA says a worker can file a safety and health complaint online, by phone or by letter, in any language, and can file it anonymously. It gives a filing deadline of less than six months and the phone number 1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742). Whether a complaint fits a given situation is for OSHA to say.

Working from abroad

USCIS says on its working in the United States page that if you live outside the country and want to work here, you generally must apply for a visa from the State Department, unless a visa is not required. It adds that before entering you must present yourself to a Customs and Border Protection officer and receive permission to enter.

The Department of Labor's H-2B page says the work must be temporary: a one-time occurrence, or a seasonal, peakload or intermittent need. USCIS's H-2B page said that as of September 4, 2026 enough petitions had been received to meet the cap for the first half of fiscal year 2027. Neither page names tree work. The routes in all five countries are in working abroad as a climber.

Events

Climbing competitions, conferences and chapter days are listed with links to the organiser on the events page. Each row links to the organiser, who has the last word on dates and fees.

More guides for tree work in the United States

Which states license tree work, in the state license guide.
ISA credentials step by step, in the ISA credentials guide.
Renewals and continuing education, in the keeping certified guide.
Pay state by state, in the regional pay guide.
Jobs beyond climbing, in the career paths guide.
Official outlook figures, in the career outlook guide.
Line clearance as a line of work, in the utility line clearance guide.
Safety reading at no cost, in the free safety resources guide.
Crisis and support lines, in the mental health and support guide.
Local groups near you, in the chapters and branches guide.
How a tree works, in the tree biology guide.
Naming the tree in front of you, in the tree identification guide.
Planting and nursery stock rules, in the planting standards guide.
Free courses and reading, in the free learning library.
City tree permits in the largest US cities, in the US city permits guide.
Safety rules place by place, in the state and province rules guide.
Workers' comp rates for tree work by state, in the US workers' comp guide.
Pay by city and region, in the pay by city guide.
Minimum wages and award rates, in the minimum pay guide.
Risk assessments and equipment records, in the site paperwork guide.
Who must report a work injury, in the injury reporting guide.
Official injury and death figures, in the injury figures guide.
Crane operator licences and lifting rules, in the cranes guide.
Public lookups for a tree company, in the company checks guide.
Approved contractor and credential-check schemes, in the schemes guide.
Every regulator, licence office and scheme in one list, in the United States directory of official bodies.
Helmet standards and the markings to look for, in the helmets guide.
Visors, glasses and ear defenders, in the eye, face and hearing guide.
Chainsaw trousers, chaps and boots by label, in the chainsaw clothing guide.
Line, lanyard and friction cord ratings, in the climbing lines guide.
Saddle and harness standards, in the saddles and harnesses guide.
The numbers stamped on carabiners and pulleys, in the hardware ratings guide.
High-visibility clothing for roadside work, in the hi-vis guide.
Gear inspection and examination rules, in the gear inspection guide.
Unit conversions and green wood weights, on the tools page.