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Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers: Job Description
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.
What Do Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of landscaping and groundskeeping workers cover:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful landscaping and groundskeeping workers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Athletic Field Custodian
- Bonsai Tender
- Brush Cutter
- Caretaker
- Cemetery Keeper
- Cemetery Laborer
- Cemetery Warden
- Cemetery Worker
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 142,343 landscaping and groundskeeping workers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected 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 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| 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
Earnings for landscaping and groundskeeping workers vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| 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 |
Which Industries Hire 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:
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)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for landscaping and groundskeeping workers tends to involve 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
Getting Started in This Career
Typical 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), indicating 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)
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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