Yes We are all Underpaid... However in the US ... WOW, that is really something else.
Big Cities are going to pay out better dollars to a climber generally, rural guys will make less and it's all about who you are.
Solid dependable climbers out in the GTA (Toronto Area) are generally making about 20-25 hr for a company. TOP dollar is 30 and yes some guys will make that out here is they are production oriented. That is in the upper tier of tree work. Groundsman make 15-20 and will do better if they have an upgrade license or are good with maintenance can occasionally sell work or are skilled with buckets or cranes. If your looking to keep a guy, and want to keep him and want him to be happy and not screw you around behind your back because your buying new bucket trucks while paying him nothing off the work he doing for you each day... Pay him fairly and keep him, unless its not worth it and you've got an abundance of skilled climbers to work with, which is rare.
A true professional is worth what we are dicussing here, but how many people are truly up to the standard of being called an 'Arborist' not simply a 'tree climber'? That is the key in the questions... Who is an "Arborist" a trained and skilled professional with the knowledge of proper tree care, PPE and proper safe methods for tree care and removal. Who is a "tree climber"? ... this guy
Cookeville , TN - Tree Climbing , Trimming and felling a tree - YouTube is a tree climber, and owner of a tree company, appparently... this is the differenc.
Yes, there are a lot of underpaid professionals out there, especially with guys this dumb out there making every one of us professionals cringe and wonder why we got into tree work in the first place. But I love what I do, and I am going to get up really early tommorrow and do it and the next day and the day after...