Annual Salary
£25,000 to £40,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Agriculture or Animal or go back to all job sectors or go to green jobs
Swap to Agriculture or Animal or go back to all job sectors or go to green jobs
Arboricultural officers manage and maintain trees for local councils and arboricultural contractors.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: on call; occasionally
There will be
3.7% more Arboricultural officer jobs in 2029.
You could:
Green job
As an arboricultural officer, you can manage tree planting in cities. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, trap harmful pollutants and improve air quality. This can have a positive impact on the environment.
Find out more about green careers
You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.
You could work on the streets, in parks and gardens, in woodland or in an office.
Your working environment may be at height and outdoors in all weathers.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:
You'll usually need:
You could take a course at an agricultural college to learn some of the skills and knowledge you need for this job.
Relevant courses include:
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
You could apply for a place on an apprenticeship to get into this career. These include:
These apprenticeships take from 2 to 3 years to complete and are a mix of on-the-job training and some study.
You'll usually need:
You could join an organisation, like a local authority or landscaping firm, as an assistant arboricultural officer. You'll need some qualifications or experience, for example as a tree surgeon or groundworker.
You may find it useful when looking for jobs to have some relevant practical experience. You can find volunteering opportunities with conservation bodies like:
You could apply directly to become an arboricultural officer.
You'll usually need:
If you have a degree in a relevant subject, you can apply for a graduate training scheme place with Forestry England. Check with them for application dates.
You could join the Institute of Chartered Foresters for professional development.
You can find out more about working in arboriculture from The Arboricultural Association and the Royal Forestry Society.
With experience, you could:manage a team of arboricultural officers and co-ordinate work with outside contractors; work as a consultant, advising organisations on tree management, conservation and safety; find teaching opportunities with training providers who offer courses in arboriculture
Arboricultural officers manage and protect trees in the local environment, getting involved in tree planting initiatives, organising tree surveys and monitoring.
There are several different routes you can take to get into working in forestry which you can explore further in the 'Routes into this job' section above.
Click here for an explanation of the different course and apprenticeship levels.
Click here to find a local provider
Click here to search for a local apprenticeship
Click here to search for other university courses
For more local employment opportunities see the 'Live job vacancies by region' section above.
You'll need: