Tree Trimmers and Pruners in the Athens-Clarke County Metro

BLS metro-level wage data places Tree Trimmers and Pruners pay in Athens-Clarke County, GA at a median of $41,960 per year ($20.17/hr), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared with the national median of $50,960, the metro estimate is 18% below. OEWS reports the difference but does not identify its cause. Approximately 70 tree trimmers and pruners are employed across the Athens-Clarke County MSA in SOC 37-3013.

The Athens-Clarke County pay distribution spans from $18,390 at the 10th percentile to $52,290 at the 90th, a 2.8× observed spread. Differences in specialization, employer, sector, location, credentials, schedule, and experience may all contribute, but OEWS does not isolate their effects. The 25th percentile sits at $34,150 and the 75th at $52,290, so half of Athens-Clarke County-based tree trimmers and pruners earn within that middle band.

Metro figures use establishment work location, not worker residence. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Athens-Clarke County, GA covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. OEWS includes straight-time pay, tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer health and retirement benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, signing bonuses, and other nonproduction bonuses. The same occupation's national profile, statewide GA estimate, and peer-metro rows provide distinct geographic comparisons. A published median is a benchmark, not a prediction or ceiling for one worker.