Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
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.
From people doing the work
Day-to-day work often involves a mix of physical labor outdoors, using various hand and power tools to maintain green spaces. It can be demanding, especially in varying weather, but there's a satisfaction in seeing immediate results and contributing to beautiful environments. Problem-solving for plant health and the field design is also a key part of the job.
Drawn from National Association of Landscape Professionals, LawnSite.com, r/landscaping
Attribution: Composite
Composite · Synthesised from National Association of Landscape Professionals, LawnSite.com, r/landscaping
A day in the life of Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- 80% Team / 20% Solo
- Client facing
- Never
- Impact visibility
- Moderate
- Travel
- Frequent
- Schedule flexibility
- Flexible
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 35-40
- Stress level
- Low
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers salary, education and outlook at a glance
- Median salary
- $38,090
- Entry-level
- $29,000
- Senior
- $53,000
- Growth by 2033
- +3.6%
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Moderate
- Salary growth potential
- 83%
- Typical student debt
- Moderate
Skills you need as Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
Hard skills
- Chemistry
- Operation and Control
- Web page creation and editing software
Soft skills
- Coordination
- Social Perceptiveness
- Speaking
Technical complexity: Low
Tools of the trade
Core tools
- Shovel (Hardware): Used for digging, moving soil, and planting.
- Lawn Mower (Hardware): Essential for cutting and maintaining grass in various landscape settings.
- Hedge Trimmer (Hardware): Used for shaping and maintaining hedges and shrubs.
Commonly used
- Rake (Hardware): Used for gathering leaves, debris, and leveling soil.
- Leaf Blower (Hardware): Used for clearing leaves and light debris from outdoor surfaces.
- Pruning Shears (Felco) (Hardware): Precision tool for cutting small branches and shaping plants.
Specialist tools
- Tractor with attachments (Hardware): Used for heavy-duty tasks like tilling, hauling, and large-scale grounds maintenance.
How to become Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
- Minimum education
- Less than High School
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 3-5
- Years to senior
- 8-12
- Career switching
- Easy
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
- Greenhouse Worker: Individuals with experience in plant care and cultivation can transition into landscaping.
- Hardware Associate: Experience with tools and equipment maintenance from a hardware retail setting is transferable.
- Farm Worker: Skills in agriculture, planting, and grounds maintenance are directly applicable.
Where you can go from here
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers: Advancement to a supervisory role overseeing landscaping teams and projects.
- Landscape Architect: With further education and design skills, one can move into landscape architecture.
- Arborist: Specializing in tree care, including planting, pruning, and removal.
- Irrigation Technician: Focusing on the installation and maintenance of irrigation systems.
Typical progression
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
- or Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers job outlook and future demand
- Automation probability
- Very High
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
Job satisfaction as Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
- Overall satisfaction
- 5.8/10
- Meaning
- 5.5/10
- Work-life balance
- 6.5/10
- Prestige
- 3/10
- Social perception
- Low
Where practitioners gather
Professional organisations
- National Association of Landscape Professionals: A leading professional organization offering education, training, and advocacy for the landscape industry.
- Association of Professional Landscape Designers: A community for landscape design professionals focusing on education, networking, and promoting design excellence.
Reddit communities
- r/landscaping: A Reddit community for discussions, advice, and sharing related to all aspects of landscaping.
Online communities
- LawnSite.com: An online community and forum for lawn care and landscaping professionals to discuss industry topics.
- The Lawn Forum: A community for lawn care enthusiasts and professionals to share knowledge and experiences.