Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers: Career Overview
Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units.
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What Tasks Do Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Perform?
The core tasks performed by landscaping and groundskeeping workers include:
- Gather and remove litter.
- Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush trimmers, or axes.
- Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chainsaws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
- Water lawns, trees, or plants, using portable sprinkler systems, hoses, or watering cans.
- Prune or trim trees, shrubs, or hedges, using shears, pruners, or chain saws.
- Mix and spray or spread fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides onto grass, shrubs, or trees, using hand or automatic sprayers or spreaders.
- Care for established lawns by mulching, aerating, weeding, grubbing, removing thatch, or trimming or edging around flower beds, walks, or walls.
- Follow planned landscaping designs to determine where to lay sod, sow grass, or plant flowers or foliage.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top landscaping and groundskeeping workers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Athletic Field Custodian
- Bonsai Tender
- Brush Cutter
- Caretaker
- Cemetery Keeper
- Cemetery Laborer
- Cemetery Warden
- Cemetery Worker
How Many Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Are There?
The U.S. employs around 142,343 landscaping and groundskeeping workers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -2.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $43,138 |
| Hourly median | $20.74 |
| 10th percentile | $30,607 |
| 25th percentile | $36,872 |
| 75th percentile | $49,403 |
| 90th percentile | $55,669 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $47,320 |
| Massachusetts | $47,050 |
| Minnesota | $46,730 |
| Alaska | $46,510 |
| Washington | $46,200 |
| Maine | $45,470 |
| Colorado | $44,950 |
| Connecticut | $44,920 |
| Hawaii | $44,800 |
| New York | $44,690 |
| Rhode Island | $44,610 |
| New Hampshire | $44,540 |
| California | $44,340 |
| Oregon | $43,170 |
| Illinois | $43,120 |
| Vermont | $41,250 |
| New Jersey | $40,390 |
| Montana | $39,530 |
| North Dakota | $39,520 |
| Wisconsin | $39,310 |
| Utah | $38,940 |
| Idaho | $38,580 |
| Maryland | $38,060 |
| Arizona | $37,920 |
| Michigan | $37,900 |
| Nebraska | $37,890 |
| Kansas | $37,790 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,770 |
| Nevada | $37,630 |
| Virginia | $37,580 |
| Iowa | $37,450 |
| Missouri | $37,380 |
| Ohio | $37,240 |
| Wyoming | $37,190 |
| Tennessee | $37,100 |
| Delaware | $37,040 |
| Indiana | $36,980 |
| North Carolina | $36,890 |
| Georgia | $36,830 |
| Texas | $36,240 |
| South Carolina | $36,130 |
| Florida | $36,030 |
| Kentucky | $35,750 |
| New Mexico | $35,740 |
| Virgin Islands | $35,700 |
| Alabama | $35,160 |
| Oklahoma | $34,910 |
| Arkansas | $34,450 |
| Louisiana | $32,540 |
| South Dakota | $31,420 |
| Guam | $31,400 |
| Mississippi | $30,840 |
| West Virginia | $30,310 |
| Puerto Rico | $20,830 |
Where Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Earn the Most
Compensation for landscaping and groundskeeping workers differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $45,550 | 5.7% | 1.24 |
| Far Western US | $44,160 | 16.4% | 1.00 |
| Rocky Mountains | $41,714 | 5.1% | 1.27 |
| Middle Atlantic | $40,946 | 14.1% | 0.96 |
| Plains States | $39,885 | 6.6% | 0.95 |
| Great Lakes | $39,093 | 14.8% | 1.05 |
| Southwest | $36,430 | 11.0% | 0.88 |
| Southeast | $36,080 | 25.6% | 1.10 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $48,210 | 12,050 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $48,010 | 11,650 |
| Carson City, NV | NV | $47,900 | 210 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | ME | $47,800 | 2,990 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $47,550 | 910 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | MA | $47,540 | 1,860 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $47,360 | 13,810 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $47,310 | 4,760 |
Top Industries Employing Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
The bulk of landscaping and groundskeeping workers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 597,250 | $38,380 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 101,840 | $35,570 |
| Educational Services | 30,700 | $42,230 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 28,650 | $38,050 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 25,730 | $38,070 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 16,670 | $36,160 |
| Construction | 14,410 | $41,600 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 10,770 | $40,520 |
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for landscaping and groundskeeping workers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How to Become Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
Entry-level landscaping and groundskeeping workers positions require less than a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (Primary-Short)
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners (Supplemental)
- Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation (Primary-Short)
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners (Primary-Short)
- Agricultural Equipment Operators (Primary-Short)
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse (Primary-Short)
- Forest and Conservation Workers (Supplemental)
- Fallers (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Aspiring landscaping and groundskeeping workers commonly pursue 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
References
Data on this page comes from 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: 37-3011.00 (Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers).
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