Landscaping and groundskeeping workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,150 | $14.98 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| Mean (average) | $42,290 | $20.33 |
| 90th percentile | $56,730 | $27.28 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $35,630 | $26,370 | $47,270 | 12,020 | 0.93 |
| Alaska | $47,690 | $33,550 | $62,800 | 1,080 | 0.54 |
| Arizona | $38,910 | $35,520 | $48,500 | 22,450 | 1.13 |
| Arkansas | $35,770 | $26,710 | $45,310 | 6,610 | 0.83 |
| California | $45,560 | $36,780 | $61,200 | 106,180 | 0.95 |
| Colorado | $45,760 | $36,280 | $60,200 | 21,990 | 1.25 |
| Connecticut | $45,740 | $35,850 | $58,660 | 13,490 | 1.3 |
| Delaware | $37,350 | $32,910 | $46,620 | 4,130 | 1.39 |
| District of Columbia | $48,790 | $38,980 | $66,500 | 800 | 0.19 |
| Florida | $37,100 | $30,660 | $47,390 | 86,040 | 1.41 |
| Georgia | $37,970 | $28,710 | $47,610 | 25,510 | 0.85 |
| Guam | $31,620 | $20,960 | $37,200 | 690 | 1.68 |
| Hawaii | $45,920 | $34,220 | $56,190 | 7,040 | 1.83 |
| Idaho | $41,600 | $30,960 | $58,100 | 7,980 | 1.52 |
| Illinois | $43,790 | $32,010 | $61,190 | 34,780 | 0.93 |
| Indiana | $38,070 | $28,870 | $49,820 | 19,260 | 0.98 |
| Iowa | $38,920 | $28,480 | $58,420 | 8,800 | 0.92 |
| Kansas | $39,330 | $29,680 | $49,300 | 9,480 | 1.08 |
| Kentucky | $36,670 | $27,930 | $49,250 | 8,920 | 0.73 |
| Louisiana | $34,870 | $24,700 | $42,670 | 8,510 | 0.72 |
| Maine | $45,970 | $34,800 | $57,620 | 6,410 | 1.63 |
| Maryland | $39,380 | $35,990 | $55,490 | 17,440 | 1.03 |
| Massachusetts | $48,670 | $37,800 | $62,170 | 22,880 | 1.03 |
| Michigan | $38,120 | $29,970 | $49,670 | 32,330 | 1.2 |
| Minnesota | $46,610 | $30,510 | $61,290 | 17,610 | 0.97 |
| Mississippi | $31,630 | $24,380 | $45,390 | 4,940 | 0.69 |
| Missouri | $38,520 | $30,610 | $50,430 | 18,310 | 1.02 |
| Montana | $45,350 | $32,170 | $59,340 | 4,270 | 1.36 |
| Nebraska | $39,140 | $29,670 | $57,960 | 7,280 | 1.16 |
| Nevada | $38,820 | $31,800 | $60,290 | 9,980 | 1.05 |
| New Hampshire | $44,890 | $34,540 | $59,400 | 6,050 | 1.44 |
| New Jersey | $41,360 | $35,450 | $55,050 | 30,470 | 1.16 |
| New Mexico | $37,560 | $29,860 | $48,860 | 5,030 | 0.94 |
| New York | $44,840 | $34,950 | $59,920 | 47,600 | 0.8 |
| North Carolina | $37,910 | $30,580 | $47,490 | 32,730 | 1.08 |
| North Dakota | $40,790 | $31,480 | $57,600 | 2,100 | 0.8 |
| Ohio | $38,220 | $28,670 | $49,070 | 34,420 | 1.01 |
| Oklahoma | $35,770 | $28,040 | $46,740 | 9,280 | 0.89 |
| Oregon | $45,040 | $35,870 | $58,940 | 11,870 | 0.99 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,500 | $29,780 | $53,320 | 34,850 | 0.94 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,910 | $21,840 | $34,640 | 6,430 | 1.12 |
| Rhode Island | $44,730 | $36,600 | $57,880 | 4,040 | 1.32 |
| South Carolina | $36,710 | $28,590 | $47,010 | 15,600 | 1.1 |
| South Dakota | $35,370 | $29,100 | $46,700 | 2,980 | 1.06 |
| Tennessee | $37,020 | $29,480 | $47,650 | 18,250 | 0.91 |
| Texas | $36,740 | $28,810 | $47,910 | 63,430 | 0.74 |
| Utah | $40,740 | $32,140 | $57,180 | 12,850 | 1.21 |
| Vermont | $46,230 | $36,590 | $61,950 | 2,700 | 1.45 |
| Virgin Islands | $36,300 | $27,740 | $46,840 | 280 | 1.44 |
| Virginia | $38,410 | $31,200 | $49,980 | 25,180 | 1 |
| Washington | $46,950 | $37,510 | $61,030 | 22,550 | 1.04 |
| West Virginia | $32,240 | $25,330 | $42,610 | 3,340 | 0.78 |
| Wisconsin | $41,230 | $29,820 | $58,350 | 18,970 | 1.05 |
| Wyoming | $38,310 | $29,760 | $47,270 | 1,790 | 1.04 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 149,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 20.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General CIP 01.0601
- Ornamental Horticulture CIP 01.0603
- Greenhouse Operations and Management CIP 01.0604
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping CIP 01.0605
- Plant Nursery Operations and Management CIP 01.0606
- Turf and Turfgrass Management CIP 01.0607
- Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management CIP 31.0302
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Mow or edge lawns, using power mowers or edgers.
- Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chainsaws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
- Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush trimmers, or axes.
- Prune or trim trees, shrubs, or hedges, using shears, pruners, or chain saws.
- Gather and remove litter.
- Trim or pick flowers and clean flower beds.
Technology skills
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- IBM Notes
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Equipment Selection, Time Management.
Common job titles: Athletic Fieldskeeper, Greenskeeper, Grounds Maintenance Worker, Grounds Specialist, Groundskeeper, Groundsman, Landscape Specialist, Landscape Technician (Landscape Tech), Landscaper, Outside Maintenance Worker.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do landscaping and groundskeeping workers make?
The national median annual wage for landscaping and groundskeeping workers was $39,150 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $31,150 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $56,730. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do landscaping and groundskeeping workers need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is landscaping and groundskeeping workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of landscaping and groundskeeping workers to change +4.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 149,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay landscaping and groundskeeping workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($48,790), Massachusetts ($48,670), Alaska ($47,690). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.