are arborist underpaid or underappreciated?

ThaDankYank

Hi everyone, ive worked with trees on and off for a few years now and have in the past year or so devoted alot of my time, during and away from work on becoming a better arborist for my company and myself. i love this industry and have not enjoyed working in an industry as much as i do this one. i think i am fairly knowledgeable and look forward to advancing in my career. but cant help to think that the job im doing is alot more dangerous for what i am being paid. as a job i work with chainsaws, falling branches and trees, and am in close contact with powerlines in a urban environment. i have my cert 3 in arboriculture, an mr truck license, ewp ticket, first aid, and so on. and i work my ass off hehe.. the point im trying to make is that im still clearing as much money a week as other jobs where you dont need qualifications or are in such dangerous situations. im a pretty modest guy but i know my worth and i think i am worth more than $50000 a year, just sayin. anyone else feel the same way or have any suggestions on how to move on to bigger and better things?
Jason

Drouin Tree Service

You don't get what you don't ask for

__________________

Drouin Tree Services | Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland | Landclearing Melbourne

ThaDankYank

sorry that probably sounded like a personal rant. kinda meant to say it for all qualified arborist, not just me, like a better industry standard. although just asking is a good idea too haha.. is there a union in victoria? other states?

redmower

For starters I agree that experienced, efficient climbing arborists deserve 65K per annum at least. (The Cert 3 Arb, HR truck licence, EWP, Limits of approach etc are simply things that define the complete working arborist).

Sadly it is the marketplace that tends to dominate what funds are available for paying arborists and that varies from place to place. Up my way the market has been very tight for the past 3 or so years and this makes it hard to offer big $$ to quality arborists that are fully qualified as per above. Now we have ten or so lads signed up in for trainee-ship in Cert 3 Arb. 2 years ago we had only 2 in the greater district, plenty of climbers - but few qualifications. This should lead to a better culture in Arboriculture and maybe a stronger market seeking a better quality product/service.

The reality locally is to get bigger dollars with a truck licence you head west to the coal/gas fields. 120K. pretty lousy lifestyle but the pay is huge. I hear plenty of stories of people heading west, they say they need 30 000 more workers. I'm figure I'm too old now to change to the mining culture, and this whole tree thing is too much fun to leave.

The mining/Gas workforce is eternally short-staffed and over the years the mining unions have worked hard to gain the high rates of pay. No point trying to compare the skills of a Coalmine water truck driver with those of a climber, I maintain that you can't build an effective argument to justify the humongous difference in the respective rates of pay.

I have chosen not to chase the big bucks and enjoy the Arboricultural industry and all it has to offer on smaller bucks.

Tony Knight

I agree with that post redmower, maybe the question should be are other industries paying to higher rates? Or what sacrificed personal preferences and life style qualities are they compensating for?
Some of these industries market commodities that are in demand globally and are making obscene profits currently. If I wanted to substitute money for lifestyle and or moral fibre I'd be a politician, lawer etc and if I wanted money and dirt hands I'd be a miner.

Cheers

Tony

Scotty Pollock

I agree, we should be getting paid alot more for the hazardous work we do.
i've found since starting in this industry 4 years ago the amount of drugged up losers this industry attracts is crazy!... in the past 4 years i've seen more drug addicted losers come and go then i even thought existed!.. maybe this could be a reason for bringing down the wages of us truely dedicated Arborists?
is this the case in other states?... or is this just canberra?

Tony Knight

How are ya Scotty, I sort of get a mixed message from your post. A) you deserve more remuneration due to risk or B) that with the current salary/wages the industry attracts the undesirable (purely for the money).

A)- Are you speaking from an employer or employee perspective.

B)- I'd agree to an extent, but its up to employers to weed out the "dead wood".

Cheers

Tony

Scotty Pollock

haha im always good
I'm talking from an employee perspective. I guess that's the part about my job that sucks.... my boss will continue to put these losers on because he can save a buck and he can count on them coming back next week for shit money because they're broke by monday.
I dont think it's just the pay that attracts these people but also the fact its 'easy' for them... no brains required to drag branches. and possibly the occasional perks of the job.... selling mulch on the sly to pay for a mid week fix?
Im tired of these half witted drop kicks adding another danger to my already hazardous job.
I've only ever worked for the one company... does this sorta shit happen anywhere else? or do i need to change employer? lol

TrevMcRev

Scott, your safety, maybe even your life is in the hands of your crew. You need to be able to trust them. Doesn't sound like the environment you need to be in if you are seroius about your career.