First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers: Career Profile
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in landscaping or groundskeeping activities. Work may involve reviewing contracts to ascertain service, machine, and workforce requirements; answering inquiries from potential customers regarding methods, material, and price ranges; and preparing estimates according to labor, material, and machine costs.
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What Do First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers span:
- Establish and enforce operating procedures and work standards that will ensure adequate performance and personnel safety.
- Schedule work for crews, depending on work priorities, crew or equipment availability, or weather conditions.
- Tour grounds, such as parks, botanical gardens, cemeteries, or golf courses, to inspect conditions of plants and soil.
- Monitor project activities to ensure that instructions are followed, deadlines are met, and schedules are maintained.
- Direct activities of workers who perform duties, such as landscaping, cultivating lawns, or pruning trees and shrubs.
- Inspect completed work to ensure conformance to specifications, standards, and contract requirements.
- Plant or maintain vegetation through activities such as mulching, fertilizing, watering, mowing, or pruning.
- Direct or perform mixing or application of fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, or fungicides.
What First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers Need to Know
Successful first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Arborist Crew Leader
- Buildings and Grounds Supervisor
- Cemetery Workers Supervisor
- Enhancement Manager
- Field Manager
- Gardening Manager
- Gardening Supervisor
- Golf Course Manager
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 265,180 first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +4.4% over the projection horizon.
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $24,378 |
| Hourly median | $11.72 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $22,000 |
| 75th percentile | $27,785 |
| 90th percentile | $31,191 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $76,060 |
| Vermont | $70,180 |
| Washington | $69,060 |
| Alaska | $68,330 |
| Massachusetts | $66,010 |
| Connecticut | $65,720 |
| New York | $65,380 |
| Delaware | $65,210 |
| New Hampshire | $62,910 |
| Wisconsin | $62,500 |
| Hawaii | $62,480 |
| Oregon | $62,480 |
| Maine | $62,220 |
| California | $61,170 |
| Colorado | $60,570 |
| Minnesota | $60,210 |
| North Dakota | $59,900 |
| Indiana | $59,380 |
| Rhode Island | $59,280 |
| District of Columbia | $58,770 |
| Kansas | $58,440 |
| Michigan | $58,030 |
| Nevada | $57,520 |
| South Carolina | $56,700 |
| Wyoming | $55,990 |
| North Carolina | $55,880 |
| New Mexico | $55,730 |
| Montana | $55,680 |
| Ohio | $55,450 |
| Virginia | $55,430 |
| Utah | $54,600 |
| Illinois | $54,440 |
| South Dakota | $53,900 |
| Louisiana | $53,000 |
| Nebraska | $52,920 |
| Iowa | $51,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,510 |
| Kentucky | $50,360 |
| Oklahoma | $50,260 |
| Texas | $50,050 |
| Idaho | $49,810 |
| Alabama | $49,540 |
| Tennessee | $49,420 |
| Arizona | $49,170 |
| West Virginia | $48,960 |
| Arkansas | $48,210 |
| Mississippi | $47,880 |
| Florida | $47,860 |
| Maryland | $47,320 |
| Missouri | $46,870 |
| Georgia | $46,280 |
| Guam | $32,640 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,400 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $64,584 | 5.3% | 1.22 |
| Far Western US | $61,761 | 15.9% | 0.98 |
| Middle Atlantic | $58,855 | 14.8% | 1.11 |
| Great Lakes | $57,449 | 12.7% | 0.91 |
| Rocky Mountains | $57,038 | 6.7% | 1.69 |
| Plains States | $54,290 | 6.1% | 0.91 |
| Southeast | $50,324 | 27.2% | 1.17 |
| Southwest | $50,084 | 10.8% | 0.85 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven, CT | CT | $76,490 | 170 |
| Redding, CA | CA | $76,340 | 30 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $75,810 | 110 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $75,800 | 190 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $75,100 | 5,800 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $74,790 | 100 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $72,480 | 1,020 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | VT | $72,300 | 40 |
Which Industries Hire First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
The bulk of first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 85,980 | $52,890 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 12,050 | $60,480 |
| Educational Services | 2,890 | $62,380 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 2,760 | $58,660 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1,660 | $59,790 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 1,590 | $58,610 |
| Construction | 1,400 | $59,330 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,260 | $53,220 |
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
- Telephone Conversations
How to Become First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
Entry-level first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Construction Managers (Supplemental)
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Forest and Conservation Technicians (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers (Primary-Short)
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers typically earn programs in:
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
6 programs across 1 majors
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness Studies, and Kinesiology
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 37-1012.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers).