Arborist
A Tree Surgeon or Arborist climbs, prunes, and removes trees to maintain safety and health of urban trees for Australian local councils, utilities, and private clients.
Full-time AUD, 2025 indicative. Wide bands reflect variation by employer, experience, and location.
Consistent demand from local councils, utilities, and private residential arboricultural services.
Occupation list membership
Which Department of Home Affairs skilled lists this occupation currently appears on.
- CSOLCombined Skilled Occupation List
The merged skilled list that consolidates previous MLTSSL and STSOL eligibility under the Skills in Demand program.
Assessing authority
The body that assesses skills for migration purposes for this occupation.
- VETVETASSESSVisit official site →
Visa pathways
Australian visa subclasses for which this occupation is currently eligible.
- 186Learn more →Employer Nomination Scheme visa
Permanent employer-sponsored visa for workers nominated by an approved sponsor.
- 482Learn more →Skills in Demand visa
Employer-sponsored temporary visa (formerly TSS) for occupations on the relevant list.
- 494Learn more →Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa
Five-year employer-sponsored provisional visa in regional Australia, with a path to PR.
Key duties
- Climb trees using ropes and harnesses to prune and remove branches
- Fell trees safely using directional cutting and rigging techniques
- Apply arboricultural treatments including fertilisation, cabling, and pest management
- Assess tree health and structural hazard risk for councils and property owners
Skills required
- Tree climbing and rigging techniques
- Chainsaw operation and directional felling
- Tree hazard assessment and risk reporting
- ARBORICULTURE Australia standards and WorkSafe compliance
Typical qualifications pathway
Certificate III in Arboriculture. TRA assesses qualifications.
Visa & occupation list information
Listed on MLTSSL and CSOL, enabling subclasses 186, 189, 190, 482, 485, 491, and 494 For advice on which pathway suits your circumstances, consult a registered MARA migration agent.
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