Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers

Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed

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.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $39,150/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$31,150$56,730

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +3.6% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.

About 158,200 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

Operation and ControlCritical ThinkingSpeakingCoordinationActive ListeningOperations MonitoringTime ManagementMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessService Orientation

Top knowledge areas

English LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceChemistryMechanicalPublic Safety and SecurityAdministration and ManagementBiologyMathematics

Core tasks

• 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.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers?

The median pay for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers is $39,150 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers?

Employment for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers is projected to change +3.6% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.

What education is typically required for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers?

Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

How many job openings are there each year for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers?

About 158,200 openings per year, on average, over the decade.