The route, drawn out
DWG FEEF · 5 stops · 1.5 years to qualify-
Day one Start as an apprentice from £15.6k
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Year 2 Training continues, pay rises min. £21.2k+
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1.5 years Fully qualified around £26k
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+3–5 years Experienced up to £42k
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Then Your own business you set the rate
The first figures are legal minimums: the apprentice rate (£8.00/hr) and the National Minimum Wage for 18–20s and 21+ from April 2026, on a 37.5-hour week. Qualified and experienced pay are indicative UK ranges — most employers pay apprentices above the minimum.
What the job is
Arborists work at height with chainsaws, which tells you why the training is rigorous and the pay is good. You learn climbing and rigging, pruning to arboricultural standards, dismantling trees in tight spaces, and the biology behind what you are cutting.
Storm work, utility clearance, ash dieback and development surveys keep demand high. Qualified climbers with their own kit can earn strong day rates, and many run small teams.
A typical day
- Climb trees using rope and harness techniques safely
- Prune, reduce and fell trees to specification
- Rig and lower sections in confined spaces
- Operate and maintain chainsaws and chippers
- Identify tree species, defects and disease
How you get in
- No formal qualifications required, but you must be fit and confident at height
- NPTC/City & Guilds chainsaw and climbing tickets are essential
- Driving licence, ideally with a trailer entitlement
- A strong safety mindset — this trade punishes complacency
Where it leads
- Level 3 arboriculture and aerial rescue qualifications
- Utility arb, consultancy or tree inspection (LANTRA/Arboricultural Association)
- Team leader or contracts supervisor
- Self-employed tree surgery business
Where to train for this
20 colleges and training providers on our list cover Arborist / Tree Surgeon training. Open your region to see them, then check current intakes with the provider directly.