Stumped by Tree Troubles? We're Here for You! - Get Your FREE Estimates!
Stumped by Tree Troubles? We're Here for You! - Get Your FREE Estimates!
By
Big Easy Tree Removal 
Jul 29, 2026 
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Paid tree planting work exists mainly as seasonal contract labor, nonprofit and municipal urban forestry positions, and entry-level work with tree care companies. Around New Orleans, the durable career path is tree care rather than planting alone, since local demand runs year round and spikes after every storm season. Certification through the International Society of Arboriculture is the recognized credential. Big Easy Tree Removal works in this field across the New Orleans area.
Table of Contents
The phrase get paid to plant trees suggests a job that mostly does not exist in the form people imagine, which is someone handing you money to put saplings in the ground on your own schedule. What does exist is a genuine industry with real career paths, and in New Orleans it is busier than in most of the country. Every hurricane season generates work, the growing season runs nearly year round, and the city’s mature canopy needs constant attention. If the underlying interest is working with trees for a living, the local picture is considerably better than the search phrase suggests. Here is the honest version from Big Easy Tree Removal.
Large-scale paid tree planting is mostly seasonal contract work tied to commercial forestry and restoration projects, and it is physically demanding piece-rate labor rather than a steady salaried job.
Reforestation planting contractors work in short intense seasons, often in remote conditions, frequently paid by the tree rather than by the hour. It is legitimate work that suits some people very well, and it bears no resemblance to the gentle image the phrase conjures.
Urban tree planting, the kind that happens on a New Orleans street, is usually done either by volunteers through nonprofit programs or by tree care companies as part of paid contracts. The volunteer version does not pay. The company version does, and it comes bundled with the rest of tree care work rather than existing on its own.
That bundling is the key insight. Almost nobody makes a living planting trees exclusively. People make a living in tree care, and planting is one of the things they do.
| Path | What the work is | Entry requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Tree care company | Removal, pruning, stump work, planting | Entry level ground work, trained on the job |
| Utility vegetation management | Clearance work along power lines | Specialized training, strict safety requirements |
| Municipal urban forestry | Public tree management and planting | Varies, often credentials or experience |
| Nonprofit urban forestry | Program coordination, community planting | Often outreach or program experience |
| Seasonal reforestation | High-volume planting on contract | Physical capability, seasonal availability |
| Consulting arborist | Assessment, reports, and formal opinions | Certification and substantial experience |
The tree care company route is where most people actually enter this field. Ground work, which means handling brush, running a chipper, and supporting climbers, requires no prior credentials and teaches the trade from the ground up. Climbing and equipment operation follow with experience.
It should be said plainly that this is hazardous work. Tree care involves chainsaws, heights, heavy loads, and in utility work, energized conductors. Employers with genuine safety training and proper equipment are the ones worth working for, and that is a fair thing to evaluate before taking a job.
Local conditions make this a busier market than the national average, and in more consistent ways than people expect.
Storm season generates work every year. Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and even seasons without a direct hit produce damaged limbs, leaning trees, and cleanup. The work is not tied to a single catastrophic event.
The growing season barely stops. New Orleans sits in USDA zone 9b, so trees grow nearly year round. Clearance work, structural pruning, and maintenance do not pause for a dormant winter the way they do further north.
The canopy is mature and dense. Large old trees on narrow lots beside older homes need constant attention, and that attention requires rigging skill rather than simple felling.
Invasive removal is ongoing. Chinese tallow is established across Orleans and Jefferson Parishes and keeps generating removal work.
The rigging point deserves emphasis as a career matter. Most New Orleans lots have nowhere for a tree to fall, so removals are technical dismantling jobs. That skill is genuinely valuable and takes years to develop, which is why experienced climbers are in demand here.
The recognized industry credential in this field is ISA Certified Arborist, administered by the International Society of Arboriculture. It requires documented experience, a written examination, and continuing education to maintain.
Certification does several things. It signals verified knowledge to employers and clients, it opens consulting and assessment work that ground experience alone does not, and it tends to be expected for municipal and utility roles.
Separate from certification, licensing and insurance requirements apply to businesses operating in Louisiana. Anyone considering working independently rather than for an employer should confirm current requirements with the appropriate state authority before taking on work, since operating without required credentials creates exposure for both the operator and the customer.
For someone starting out, the sequence that works is usually: ground work with a company that trains properly, build climbing and rigging skill, then pursue certification once the experience requirement is met.
Almost certainly not as a standalone job. Planting is one service within tree care rather than a career on its own.
The exception is seasonal reforestation contract work, which is real but intermittent, physically brutal, and generally not local to an urban area. For steady income around New Orleans, tree care is the field and planting is part of it.
No. Entry-level ground positions with tree care companies are the standard way in, and the trade is learned on the job.
What matters more than prior experience is physical capability, reliability, and taking safety seriously. Employers train the skills. They cannot train showing up on time and paying attention around a chipper.
It can be, as a way to learn species, planting technique, and local networks, but it is not a substitute for paid entry-level experience.
Volunteering with a local tree organization gives genuine exposure and connections in the New Orleans urban forestry community. Treat it as reconnaissance and networking rather than as a job pipeline.
If you arrived here as a property owner rather than a job seeker, the practical points are these:
Big Easy Tree Removal is locally owned and operated, working the mature canopy, narrow lots, and storm damage that define tree work in this region. It is demanding trade work, and doing it properly on a New Orleans property takes skill that only develops over years.
We serve New Orleans, Kenner, Metairie, Harahan, River Ridge, Gretna, Slidell, Laplace, and throughout Louisiana.
Call 504-732-1166 for tree work on a New Orleans area property.
Yes, but mainly as seasonal contract work or as one service within a tree care job. Very few people plant trees as a standalone career.
Entry-level ground positions with local tree care companies. No prior experience is required and the trade is learned on the job.
ISA Certified Arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture is the recognized credential, requiring documented experience and an examination.
More than in most regions. The growing season runs nearly year round in zone 9b and hurricane season generates work every year.
Yes. It involves chainsaws, heights, heavy loads, and sometimes energized lines, so employer safety training matters a great deal.
It builds knowledge and local connections but is not a substitute for paid entry-level experience with a tree care company.
Yes, there are grants available for planting trees. The U.S. Forest Service provides funds for reforestation projects, as do many other local and federal agencies. State wildlife and forestry departments often offer grants for tree planting initiatives, as well. There are also several private foundations, such as the Arbor Day Foundation, that provide financial support to help with tree-planting efforts. Additionally, some agricultural stores offer programs in which they will match donations to offset tree-planting costs.
There are a number of ways to find tree-planting opportunities, depending on your location and desired level of involvement.
One way is to look online for reforestation initiatives in your area and beyond. Many governments have programs that encourage citizens to plant trees and can provide assistance with grants, seedlings, technical assistance, and more. You may also be able to receive funding from private organizations who are committed to reforestation efforts in your region.
Another option is to join local community groups or volunteer with nonprofit organizations dedicated to restoring forests and green spaces. These networks typically list upcoming opportunities for planting trees throughout the year.
You can also reach out directly to land owners such as farmers and private forestry companies, who often need help with their tree planting initiatives. Talk to nearby landowners who may be interested in planting trees in return for compensation or other incentives.
Finally, you can look into participating in organized events such as carbon offsetting activities or tree planters’ festivals. These provide an opportunity for you to meet like-minded people and learn about new initiatives, while doing something positive for the environment.
There are several types of jobs that involve planting trees, including full-time permanent positions with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies; seasonal contract work; volunteer opportunities with non-profits, schools, and community events; and even individual tree planting businesses.
For individuals looking for permanent positions, there are many opportunities in government agencies and nonprofits involved in land management and forestry. These roles often involve reforestation projects as well as monitoring existing tree populations. Private companies may also hire people to plant trees on their properties or develop urban forests.
Seasonal contract work can involve temporary roles such as thinning out trees, collecting seeds and seedlings, or helping in nursery setup and maintenance. Some positions may require specialized training, such as a degree in forestry or horticulture.
Volunteer opportunities include programs sponsored by schools and community groups to encourage green infrastructure and habitat restoration. Volunteers may help remove invasive plants, water and weed trees, or help with similar activities. They also provide an ideal platform for teaching people about the importance of conserving forest habitats.
Finally, many entrepreneurs have started their own tree planting businesses by working with property owners who are interested in adding greenery to their landscapes. The services offered may vary from simply planting trees to offering ongoing maintenance plans for the trees planted.
Overall, there is a wide range of activities related to tree planting that can be undertaken on either a professional or volunteer basis. Whether it’s working in forests or residential landscapes, these activities present meaningful ways to contribute to environmental conservation while potentially earning income as well.
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