Our world continues to grow increasingly industrialized and urbanized. It is more important now than at any point in our history to take care of the trees and plants still rooted in our planet’s fragile ecosystem. Does that important role intrigue you? Then consider a career as an arborist. Your work would focus on maintaining, trimming, and planting trees to ensure their health and longevity. It is a way to remain connected to nature in an increasingly technological world.

Arborists work within a specific area to trim, prune, hedge, remove, and plant trees. This is done via hand tools or heavy machinery. The area could be as small as a backyard or garden, or as large as a public park or golf course. Arborists strive to keep plants and trees healthy and active. The work can also entail landscaping, evaluation of trees for diseases, managing nutrients and water, and more. Be prepared to spend much of your time in the field, working on your client’s property and ready to respond to emergency calls. You will also need to complete paperwork in offices and sample processing in labs. Arborists get to spend plenty of time outdoors and work in a variety of locations. It is physically demanding work with constant pressure applied to maintain the health of the greenery in your client’s area.

The average hourly rate for arborists in Canada is $21.15. This can range from about $16 hourly to approximately $30. The annual wage depends on years of experience, with an average of $41,000 for those with fewer than five years of work. After a decade or more, arborists can expect to make at least $56,000 annually. Canada’s vast land, filled with large regions of greenery, allows for many job opportunities. Those looking for better prospects and higher salaries will find preferable wages further west in Canada, particularly in Calgary, Alberta and Vancouver, British Columbia. Pay is comparably lower in Toronto, Ontario.

Those looking to pursue a career in this field should have educational or volunteer experience in fields such as physical education, chemistry, and biology. Apart from a high school diploma, you will need to obtain a minimum of a technical diploma in programs such as botany, forestry, ecology, environmental studies, and horticulture. You can also become a member of certified bodies, such as the International Society of Arboriculture. As you gain experience, you can progress into other related careers ranging from agriculture specialist, botanist, crop and livestock producer, soil scientist, wetland biologist, ecologist, and beyond.

It is arduous and demanding work to protect nature. Many of our day-to-day activities do plenty of harm via pollution and waste. People such as arborists, who dedicate their professional lives to protecting our natural world, are playing a vital role in our present and future. No matter how urbanized or technologically advanced, humanity is still dependent on the Earth’s delicate ecosystem. When you choose a career as an arborist, you are playing an important part in ensuring that gardens are healthy, parks stay beautiful, and life remains sustainable.

Sources:

ECO Canada. “Arborist.” https://www.eco.ca/career-profiles/arborist/

PayScale. “Average Arborist Hourly Pay.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Arborist/Hourly_Rate