Freelance vs. Full-Time Employment in Tree Surgery

Not everyone walks the same path in their tree surgery career with some choosing to work full-time for an established company and others choosing to ply their trade as a freelancer. In this post, we'll compare freelance vs full-time employment in tree surgery.

Comparing Freelance vs. Full-Time Employment in Tree Surgery

Let's look at how the two approaches to a career in tree surgery compare.

Income

A freelance tree surgeon has the potential to make more than a regular employee as they can set their own rates and work as much as they like. That said, the amount of work can be unpredictable.

By contrast, a full-time employee will receive a predictable salary and is better able to plan for their future from a financial perspective. Full-time employees may also receive sick pay and paid holidays.

Flexibility

There is no doubt who the winner here is. Freelancers are able to set their own schedule, be picky about the projects they accept and have total control over their workload.

Full-time employees on the other hand are expected to show up at a certain time every day and work to a certain time every day and they go where their boss tells them to go.

Expenses

Freelancers need to cover their own costs, including petrol, vehicle maintenance and the acquisition and maintenance of key equipment. They'll also need to invest in liability insurance if they hope to get work.

Full-time employees typically get a company-owned vehicle, have access to equipment owned by the company and do not have to pay for liability coverage.

Career Development

Freelancers will need to cover the cost of any professional development courses they take. And they will need to take them to stay current with the latest equipment, techniques and regulations.

Full-time employees, by contrast, often benefit from employer-paid training and development making it easy to enhance their skillset without testing their bank account.

Get in Touch

We hope this post has provided information you can use to make informed decisions about your tree surgery career. And don't forget to avail yourself of our high-quality tree surgery-related courses. To learn more, call DTE on 01959 524 623.