What do Christmas tree farm workers do?
Trees take years to grow, so farm work spreads across seasons. Workers plant seedlings, control weeds, shear trees to shape them, scout for pests and prepare fields for harvest.
In the fall, workers cut, bale and load trees for wholesale and retail customers. Cut-your-own farms add jobs such as parking, greeting customers and helping with tree loading.
Tree farms grow different species, such as Fraser fir, balsam fir, Douglas fir and pines, and the right choice depends on the region. Ask a farm which varieties it grows and how long they take to mature.
What does the year look like?
Spring is planting and weed control. Summer is shearing, which shapes trees as they grow. Fall brings tagging, harvest and hauling.
Winter is the retail peak for many farms, with long days of customer service, wreath making and sales. After the season workers clean up, repair equipment and plan for next year.
Because the work is spread across seasons, many tree farm workers also have other jobs. Some combine tree work with equipment repair, landscaping or other farm work.
What jobs exist?
Many farms are family-run and small, but some are larger wholesale operations. Jobs vary with size.
Typical roles include:
Retail lots and cut-your-own farms also need people who can run registers, handle money carefully and keep lines moving on busy weekends.
- Planter and field crew
- Shearing crew member
- Harvest and baling crew
- Truck loader and driver
- Retail lot staff and customer service
- Wreath and craft maker
- Farm manager or assistant manager
- Cashier and parking staff at a cut-your-own lot
What skills help?
Reliability, a good attitude and willingness to work in all weather help most. Shearing requires skill with long knives or powered tools, and good workers get faster and more accurate with practice.
Customer service matters on retail lots. People are choosing a tree for their home, so friendliness and patience count. Basic math helps with pricing and change.
Shearing is a skill that improves with practice. New workers start with guidance from experienced crew members and learn the timing for each species.
What are the safety points?
Sharp knives, chainsaws, tractors, uneven ground and cold weather create risk. Ask for training before using any cutting tool, and wear the protective gear provided. Never run equipment you were not trained to operate.
OSHA and NIOSH publish agricultural safety materials, and extension offices offer help. Youth workers should check the Department of Labor rules for hazardous tasks and age limits.
Heat in summer shearing season and cold in winter sales season both call for planning. Ask about breaks, water, warm shelter and protective clothing.
- Ask who trains new workers on knives, saws and powered shears
- Wear eye protection, gloves and cut-resistant clothing when instructed
- Keep a safe distance from other workers while shearing
- Watch footing in wet or icy fields
How do pay and seasonal work function?
Pay and hours vary by region and farm. Check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for current pay and outlook in agricultural work, and ask local farms what they offer for seasonal jobs.
Ask when the season starts and ends, how many hours to expect and whether work continues after the holidays. Some workers combine seasonal tree work with other farm jobs to fill the year.
If you find tree farming interesting, ask a grower about the long timeline. Trees take years to mature, and planning ahead is part of the business.
- Ask whether the farm offers year-round work or only the holiday rush
- Find out how pay is handled for wreath making and retail shifts
- Ask whether anyone teaches new workers shearing and harvest methods
How can a teen get started?
Ask local tree farms about holiday help, retail jobs or summer shearing crews. Join FFA or 4-H and take horticulture or forestry classes. Learn about tree species and the growing cycle.
Some students go on to study forestry, horticulture or ag business. Others grow their own small plot while working elsewhere, but it takes patience because trees need years to mature.
- Help at a school or church tree sale to practice customer service
- Learn tree species and how long each takes to grow
Your next steps
- Christmas tree farms need workers year round, with a retail rush in winter.
- Planting, shearing, harvest and customer service are the main jobs.
- Knives, saws and equipment require training and protective gear.
- Check pay in the BLS handbook and ask about seasonal hours.
- Horticulture classes and local farm jobs are good first steps.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Ag Jobs & Careers Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.