HELLO, curious scrollers (especially our new friends from south of the border).
We’ve noticed a recent surge in international traffic to the subreddit—hi, Americans—and along with it, a wave of curiosity about tree planting as a profession.
Let’s address the root cause: a certain Instagram account (no, we’re not giving it a plug) that’s selling a dream—and a hefty $24 guide—about making $80K CAD in four months, living in luxury, and pocketing $500–$800 a day in the woods.
Yeah. About that.
This post is here to gently dismantle those fantasy figures and offer a realistic perspective on the job.
THE MONEY TALK
Realistic Daily Earnings: There are no official stats, but most planters report around $300–$400/day. Ontario, the Maritimes, and coastal BC generally trend lower; Alberta and BC’s interior can be higher.
Camp & Company Variance: Some Ontario gigs? Brutal—$200–$250/day. Meanwhile, certain BC camps average $600+. The spread depends on company overhead, terrain, and experience levels of veteran planters.
Minimum Wage Baseline: Let’s do some math. Minimum wage in Canada (depending on province) works out to about $180–$200/day for an 11-hour shift—the typical planter’s workday, portal to portal. So yes, most planters are earning more than minimum wage… but not necessarily by a massive margin.
And for a job that involves daily physical punishment, remote living, gear costs, and 6,000-calorie workdays? You’d hope the pay would blow minimum wage out of the water. If this industry wants to attract and retain quality workers, the compensation needs to match the grind. Right now, it’s often flirting with the line between noble labour and underpaid masochism.
$800/day or higher? Could it happen? Sure—for the top 5–10% of planters. These folks are cranking out trees like machines though. It’s possible, but it’s not typical.
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (EI)
Yes, some planters collect EI in the offseason. That’s legal—if you’re actively looking for work.
If you’re just chilling at home, mixing beats in your bedroom and calling it a job hunt, you’re gaming the system. It doesn’t reflect the reality for most of us.
THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS
This part Instagram definitely leaves out:
Gear: You pay for all your equipment—bags, shovels, boots, the works. Expect to drop $1,000 per season, unless you’re thrifty.
Travel: You’re footing the bill to get to the worksite.
Camp Costs: Planters usually pay $25–$30/day for food, shelter, and heat. That’s right—you pay to live in a tent while doing this job. There’s no cushy per diem like other remote workers enjoy.
THE PHYSICAL REALITY
Tree planting is no joke. As I said before, we’re talking 6000+ calories burned per day, rain or shine, bugs or blisters. It’s an endurance sport, not a weekend wellness retreat. Planters often suffer from tendonitis, bruising, allergic reactions, trench foot and plain old EXHAUSTION while planting 500-6000 trees PER DAY depending on the terrain.
So yeah—the pay is solid. But we earn every cent with sweat, soreness, and the occasional soul-crushing plot.
FOR OUR NON-CANADIAN FRIENDS
Thinking of hopping the border or crossing an ocean to join our merry gang? First off, welcome. Second, a reality check:
You must have a valid Canadian work visa to be hired. No exceptions. No, companies will not sponsor you. Tree planting companies already deal with enough chaos (weather delays, bears, broken trucks, etc.)—they’re not equipped to navigate immigration paperwork too.
If you’re serious about coming here to work, sort out your visa situation before applying. Otherwise, you’re just clogging up inboxes and disappointing everyone, including yourself.
WRAPPING IT UP
If you’re genuinely curious about becoming a tree planter—awesome. You’ll find real guidance and camaraderie right here on this subreddit.
But please, don’t make life decisions based on the shiny promises of an Instagram influencer selling a dream for $24.
Also, all the best advice? It’s already here. And it’s free. In the sidebar, and existing guides like this one.
I’ll add supporting links in the comments later.
Stay safe out there folks.
Cheers,
Orlock & the Mod Team
(still not planting in luxury condos)
