Green Jobs
Climber & Pruner
$76,580 a year
Posted until September 29, 2026 · posted July 31, 2026
Requirements
License or certificate
Exam
Competitive title
A job title where you show you are right for it by passing a competitive exam: multiple-choice, practical, education and experience, or a mix. On our job pages this shows as "Civil service exam title".
≈ $36.82 an hour · $2,945 every 2 weeks, before taxes (40-hour weeks).
NYC minimum wage is $17/hr. This beats it by $19.82/hr, with health insurance and a pension on top.
What you'd have made
$2,935 If you'd started this job 2 weeks ago, at this pay, before taxes.
An hour of this job pays for about 12.2 subway rides ($3 fare).
Price anything in hours of this job
Overtime added $10,877 on average that year, and it isn't guaranteed. Base salary of active employees paid a yearly rate, fiscal year 2025 (July 2024 to June 2025). Source: NYC's payroll data
Check yourself
What they actually ask for.
A license or certificate is part of the requirements
Six months of satisfactory, full-time experience as a climber and pruner or arborist performing all types of tree work required for the planting, maintenance, and removal of trees and large shrubs including climbing, pruning, bracing, cutting and felling trees and large shrubs and operating manual, power driven and motorized equipment required for the performance of these duties.
Experience as a ground person is not acceptable towards meeting this requirement.
Read the rest of the requirements
Driver License Requirement: At the time of appointment, eligibles must possess a motor vehicle driver license valid in the State of New York, and a Class B Commercial Driver License valid in the State of New York within one year of being appointed to this position.
Serious moving violations, license suspension or accident record may disqualify you. This Class B Commercial Driver License must be maintained for the duration of your employment. Such license must not include any restrictions which would preclude the performance of Climber and Pruner work.
Quoted word for word from the official posting. The label above is ours, read from this text; if they disagree, this text wins.
The work
What the job is.
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Fieldwork or outdoors
“stump grinder; lifting and moving heavy objects; standing for extended periods of time; and working outdoors in a restricted space in an urban environment in all kinds of weather, including severe weather conditions.”
Read from the posting. Tap one to see the line it came from.
NYC Parks manages more than 30,000 acres, 14% of the city’s land, encompassing more than 5,000 individual properties.
Our diverse set of assets includes recreational facilities, nature centers, historic buildings and structures, trees, forests, wetlands, golf courses, athletic fields, playgrounds, tennis courts, public pools, retaining walls and nearly 14 miles of beaches.
Read the rest, from the posting
NYC Parks offers competitive pay and a generous benefits package, including pension, excellent health, dental and vision coverage, competitive vacation/sick days, and a healthy work-life balance.
Major Responsibilities
- Under supervision, perform all types of work required for the planting, maintenance and removal of trees and large shrubs.
- Climb, prune, brace, cut and fell trees and large shrubs.
- Operate bucket truck, including aerial lift and cherry picker, as well as chipper and other similar equipment.
- Identify hazard defects of trees and ensure public safety.
- Perform tree inspections.
- Identify trees by species and inspect for the Asian Longhorned Beetle and other pests and diseases.
- Prepare and use composting sites.
- Work Location
- TBD
Special Working Conditions: When responding to emergency conditions, Climber and Pruners may be required to work shifts including nights, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Some of the physical activities performed by Climber and Pruners and environmental conditions experienced are:
- climbing in and out of an aerial lift device (bucket truck);
- climbing up in a tree using rope and harness or bucket;
- operating a chainsaw;
- operating heavy motorized equipment such as bucket truck, chipper, loader, and stump grinder;
- lifting and moving heavy objects;
- standing for extended periods of time; and
- working outdoors in a restricted space in an urban environment in all kinds of weather, including severe weather conditions.
How to Apply: Go to cityjobs.nyc.gov and search for Job ID# 788951.
All applicants must apply via cityjobs.nyc.gov. The City is no longer using ESS to accept applications.
*Current City Employees please include your ERN on your cover letter and resume.
NOTE: All resumes must be received no later than the last day of the posting period. *Previous applicants to Job ID# 774780 are still being considered and need not reapply. References will be required upon request. We appreciate the interest of all applicants. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
nyc.gov/parks
MOVEMENT IN THE FACE OF CIVIL SERVICE LISTS IS PROHIBITED UNDER CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
Civil Service Exams - Department of Citywide Administrative Services (nyc.gov)
Before you apply
The fine print.
Where you have to live
This position is exempt from NYC residency requirements.
Sources
Straight from the city.
Updated every day from the city's job data (last city update September 21, 2026). You apply through the official posting.
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