Tree work costs and wages in New York

Wages in New York

Tree trimmers and pruners in New York earn a median of $30.00 an hour, or $62,400 a year (BLS, May 2025). Half of them earn between $22.99 and $38.00 an hour, the 25th to 75th percentiles (BLS state file). BLS counts 3,750 of these jobs in New York. That's above the national median of $24.50 an hour (BLS).

These are wages, not prices. A contractor's price also covers materials, equipment, insurance, overhead and profit, so a wage can't be turned into what a job costs you. BLS counts employees only, not the self-employed.

Permit fees New York sets

Most permits come from your city or county, at fees each one sets. New York sets the fees below for permits it issues itself. Check which office covers your address before you apply.

NYSDOT highway work permit, residential tree work

$40.00. Only for work in a state highway right of way. (New York State Department of Transportation, checked October 2, 2026)

Companies in New York

New York has 2,357 tree service companies listed, and 1,942 of them hold an active USDOT registration. Of the counties with pages of their own, the largest are Suffolk County (397), Westchester County (152), Nassau County (149), Erie County (130) and Monroe County (122). Browse them by county, or ask for quotes and we'll pass your job to companies near you.

Tree work rules in New York

All New York rules and sources

National price ranges

National price ranges for tree work, each credited to its source, are in How much does tree removal cost?

For a planning range on your own job, run the estimator.