Tree work costs and wages in Virginia
What tree trimmers and pruners earn in Virginia, any permit fees the state sets, how many tree service companies are listed here and in which counties, and the state's licensing rules. Job prices aren't published for any one state, so our price ranges are national.
Checked October 2, 2026
Wages in Virginia
Tree trimmers and pruners in Virginia earn a median of $23.34 an hour, or $48,550 a year (BLS, May 2025). Half of them earn between $21.92 and $25.95 an hour, the 25th to 75th percentiles (BLS state file). BLS counts 1,070 of these jobs in Virginia. That's below 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 Virginia sets
Most permits come from your city or county, at fees each one sets. Virginia sets the fees below for permits it issues itself. Check which office covers your address before you apply.
- VDOT permit to trim or cut trees on a state highway, application fee
- $100. Only for work in a state-maintained highway right of way. (Virginia Department of Transportation, checked October 2, 2026)
Companies in Virginia
Virginia has 696 tree service companies listed, and 139 of them hold an active USDOT registration. Of the counties with pages of their own, the largest are Culpeper County (58), Fairfax County (39), Prince William County (38), Loudoun County (25) and Bedford County (24). Browse them by county, or ask for quotes and we'll pass your job to companies near you.
Tree work rules in Virginia
Virginia has no arborist license, and its contractor specialty for stump and root removal doesn't cover tree trimming as such (Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation).
National price ranges
National price ranges for tree work, each credited to its source, are in How much does tree removal cost?
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Cite this page
“Tree work costs and wages in Virginia.” InspecTree, updated October 2, 2026. https://inspectree.com/va/costs/