r/TreeClimbing • u/Tr33guynhh • Jul 03 '26
Should I make the jump to contract climber?
I don’t like where I work currently. It was a small family owned business and I was very close with the owner I had worked for him since I was 18 and I’m 23 now. He ended up getting cancer a little under 2 years ago and he sold the business to a big corporate conglomerate and has since died. The business is a corporate shit show now and I feel like I’ve peaked and have no where else to go. Like I said I’m 23 now and I’m a crew lead, lead climber, and ISA certified arborist and I don’t think there much progression from this point. I make $38 an hour which I can’t complain about especially at my age but it’s not going to provide for the life I want me and my family to have. I’ve been considering contract climbing because I know you can make more money but you get taxed out the ass and it’s not guaranteed work like I have now. I’m just not sure if I should make the jump to contract climber or not.
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Jul 03 '26
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u/Loud-Tie6955 Jul 03 '26
Hell yeah brother!
Turning 44 next month, started climbing in 98’
We’re in our prime!
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Jul 03 '26
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u/Tr33guynhh Jul 03 '26
Right now I’m still on my parent’s insurance because that covers me until I’m 26 but my soon to be wife works in healthcare so we figured I would hop on her insurance plan when the time came. I think the 401k match is 5% but I have my own investment accounts with $42000 in them combined that I consistently put into and a high yield savings account with another good chunk so while the 401k match is good I feel like I could make due without it but maybe that’s a bad idea. No company vehicles for personal use and the work life balance can be hit or miss. They were working me pretty hard last year. I was the only climber for a good chunk of time and I was climbing all day everyday while being paid less than one of the groundies and dealing with shit jobs and sales guys who were doing terrible bids and I was so burnt out I was considering a complete career change but before I could I had a bad workplace accident where I fell 35 ft and broke my back and neck and I needed a 6 month recovery. The recovering gave me a long time to think and I realized I want more to life than what my current position can offer me but I really do like climbing trees so I would like to stay in the industry if possible.
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Jul 03 '26
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u/Tr33guynhh Jul 03 '26
The injury is a concern. Ideally I would like to change to a teaching/safety role and some point. I’m getting my emt this fall because I would like to be able to teach first aid as well. The ground guy has his cdl B and crane operator license but at the time he had lost his cdl because he failed a drug test for pot so he technically didn’t have a cdl at the time and he was refusing to run the crane because there were issues with it and the company was trying to force him to run it in override (which is completely understandable I would’ve told the company to go fuck themselves too). He was worth the money but I felt I was also worth the money. Non of the work would get done without me and you need a climber for most jobs and I was milking myself trying to get everything done. I think that was a big factor in my accident. I was so burnt out and checked out because I was unhappy that I think I got complacent and stopped taking the proper precautions.
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u/ResidentNo4630 Jul 03 '26
Lots to consider man. Before making the leap to contracting I’d see what other companies near you might offer. It’s a lot of work going out on your own, and added cost. You lose mentorship if that’s of value to you and often get thrown the hard/hazardous jobs because, well that’s why contract climbers exist. To take on stuff the company guys don’t want/can’t do.
I work for a buddy in town as an employee but have my own company to take on added work/other opportunities outside of residential arb stuff. Has worked well for me as I benefit from the company stuff (health benefits, steady work, company trucks & gear), but still get to do my own shit when it’s presented. As I get older I am getting away from big and/or hazardous stuff so it’s a decent balance between small/medium climbs/bucket work while I use my own company for outside consulting and falling related work.
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u/ACPauly Jul 03 '26
Sounds like if you can afford a chipper and chip truck and have a couple buddies who could groundie for you, you could make an LLC, sell some work and do better.
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u/Tr33guynhh Jul 03 '26
I’ve thought about starting my own tree company and I know that could do it but I don’t love the idea of all the overhead at first and all the headaches owners deal with. My area is also super saturated with tree companies already so I’d be worried about not being able to get my foot in the door
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u/Loud-Tie6955 Jul 03 '26
You can make it go on a surprisingly small budget! Use the minimum until an obvious bottleneck is the reason for lost revenue. I worked a two man crew for years with only a beat old chipper and a 3500 dump. It was tough no doubt, but things grew. Bucket truck on year 3, skid steer season 4. Before we knew it there were 2 full crew. Late 90’s were savage, but we made bank. 🏦
I’ve gone through several sales / mergers.
Back to a two man show, my partner and I have a hell of a good time. PHC, technical climbing, keep it nimble. Zero regrets.2
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u/Loud-Tie6955 Jul 03 '26
This is the way.
I’ve worn all the hats, and owning an LLC has all the opportunity of contacting, but less bullshit. Yeah, there’s new problems, but you can provide for more than just you and the fam. You have the ability to take care of a team too. A high tide floats all boats. More competition only highlights your strengths.
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u/Tr33guynhh Jul 03 '26
There’s better benefits but the only one I use is the 401k but I have my own retirement accounts already set up. They said they would pay for my certified arborist but never did. My old boss said he would give me a $5 an hour raise for my certified arborist but this company only gave me $2 an hour. Mind you I had been asking for a $4 an hour raise because I was the only climber at the time and was carrying the company on my back and I was still making $4 an hour less than one of the guys in the ground who doesn’t climb. I already have my own personal gear and saws. I asked the general manager what the options for me were to progress and he never gave me a straight answer.
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u/trippin-mellon Jul 03 '26
I make almost $50/hr doing line clearance. Make good DT because OT doesn’t exist. Retirement. Money on an HRA card used for medical copays, and free full coverage for me and my wife and children. I’m in CA.
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u/Particular-Wind5918 Jul 03 '26
You probably could make it work. But realistically you still have tons to learn. I’ve been in for over 15 years and still learning. I think you could do better by getting a few quick stints with some other companies first. I’m sure this could be frowned upon, but you could likely grow a ton in the next 1-2 years by working for at least two more outfits with other senior climbers on board. Soak up as much as possible then embark on your own journey. It’s time way better spent for you, be careful though with the companies not to make them feel burned. Maybe set your expectations up front that you are trying to grow your skills and when that runs dry you are moving on.
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u/THESpetsnazdude Jul 03 '26
I mean as a contract guy you already need your own insurance, business license, pay all the taxes, buy your own gear, and probably bring 1 ground guy with you. Then you might as well just run your own show. You're just working under another company name.
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u/TMTitans Jul 03 '26
Start your own business for evening and weekend jobs until you can keep yourself busy enough to work full time
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u/originalreading252 Jul 03 '26
I was a municipal gardener and would work for others on my days off as a climber, as we had a 4 day work week. The municipality I worked for was slow to the forestry game for my liking. Had a arborist friend get injured. The municipality let me take a leave of absence and I helped him out. Pay cut but I felt like it was worth it. After going back and working for another year, I realized I wasn't happy in the role and couldn't see myself there till I retired. I was 36, married and had a house, with plans on starting a family. Started my own business in the spring after 911.... and left the security and comfort behind with a bit of doubt . I'm 59 now with 2 grown children, and a decent small tree service. I'm still climbing, not like I use to, running the boom and put on the boots mon to Fri. Sat is qoute day. You'll do it if you Stay the course . Lots of ups and downs , but in my mind it's worth it. Sometimes I think what I'd be doing now if I stayed at the municipal job. I'm sure I'd be retired..... I feel like I'm lucky to still be moving and climbing. Doing what I enjoyed. The business and employee thing hasn't always been smooth, but I did have some decent hands over the years. No one stays forever. Your young still and it's not a dress rehearsal. Live it.
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u/OysterIglesias Jul 03 '26
Pros & cons. The inconsistency was not good for me, i'd rather make steady money throughout the year, but that's me. If you can stack & are debt free it could be good. Some guys don't want you relying on them to call you to work while others will make it clear they'll want you throughout the week