Tree work and construction laborer work compared: what the official profiles list
Tree trimmers and construction laborers both work outdoors with hand and power tools, and both profiles carry an injury-rate statement. This page sets out what the Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET report for each.
Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 9, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.
This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It is not career advice and does not say which job is better. Figures are United States figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, with the O*NET occupation codes: 37-3013.00 for tree trimmers and pruners and 47-2061.00 for construction laborers. The overview of all the trades is on the parent page, tree work compared with other outdoor and trade jobs. The ground-crew route into tree work is on the page about starting as a ground worker.
The figures side by side
| Item | Tree trimmers and pruners | Construction laborers and helpers |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay, May 2025 | US$24.50 an hour (US$50,960 a year) | US$22.44 an hour (US$46,680 a year) |
| Jobs, 2025 | 70,600 | 1,674,400 |
| Projected change, 2025 to 2035 | 3,000 more jobs, 4 percent | 108,600 more jobs, 6 percent |
| Openings a year | Not published for this occupation alone | About 137,000 |
| Related work experience | Not listed | None |
| Training | On the job | Short-term on the job |
The tree trimmer jobs and outlook come from a table on the BLS grounds maintenance workers profile, which covers a larger group. The construction figures are on the BLS construction laborers and helpers profile, last modified August 27, 2026. That profile covers laborers and helpers together. O*NET prints its own 2025 median for laborers alone, US$22.66 an hour or US$47,120 a year, so the two government pages do not give one figure.
What the construction profile lists
BLS lists these duties: cleaning and preparing sites by removing debris and hazards; loading and unloading building materials; building or taking apart bracing, scaffolding and temporary structures; digging trenches, backfilling holes and compacting earth; operating power and hand tools such as jackhammers, saws and drills; and assisting tradesworkers such as electricians and plumbers.
On entry, the profile says laborers and helpers learn on the job, that formal education is not typically required though some employers prefer high school graduates, and that workers usually start by shadowing experienced workers. Some complete apprenticeship programs, usually sponsored by local unions or trade associations. It says employers often require a safety certification that meets OSHA guidelines, either before or after hiring, that a valid driver's license may be required, and that optional certifications such as rigging or scaffolding exist.
Injuries and work context
Both profiles carry the same ranking sentence. The construction profile ranks construction laborers among the occupations with the highest rates of injuries and illnesses. The grounds maintenance profile says it of tree trimmers and pruners. Neither prints a rate. The construction profile names slips, falls and contact with objects or equipment, and mentions hardhats, steel-toed shoes and other protective gear.
O*NET asks working people the same questions for each occupation and lists the most common answer. Where both pages print one for the same question:
| Question | Tree trimmers | Construction laborers |
|---|---|---|
| Protective equipment worn every day | 100% | 97% |
| Outdoors in all weather every day | 91% | 81% |
| Standing continually or almost continually | 63% | 68% |
| Exposed to hazardous equipment | 71% said every day | 19% said once a week or more but not every day |
| Consequence of error | 30% said Serious | 38% said Extremely serious |
O*NET lists 24 tasks for tree trimmers and pruners and 27 for construction laborers. It places both occupations in Job Zone 1 to 2, very little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, with on-the-job training from a few days to one year. Reported job titles for laborers include construction worker, site work laborer and scaffolding operator. For tree trimmers they include arborist, climber, tree climber and groundsman.
Sources
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Construction Laborers and Helpers, last modified August 27, 2026, read October 9, 2026
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Grounds Maintenance Workers (includes tree trimmers and pruners), last modified September 14, 2026, read October 9, 2026
- O*NET OnLine (US Department of Labor), 47-2061.00 Construction Laborers, updated 2026, read October 9, 2026
- O*NET OnLine (US Department of Labor), 37-3013.00 Tree Trimmers and Pruners, updated 2026, read October 9, 2026