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Career

Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $39,150 Median per year · $18.82/hr Most earn $31,150–$56,730

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • 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.
  • Rake, mulch, and compost leaves.
  • Care for natural turf fields, making sure the underlying soil has the required composition to allow proper drainage and to support the grasses.
  • Plant seeds, bulbs, foliage, flowering plants, grass, ground covers, trees, or shrubs, and apply mulch for protection, using gardening tools.
  • Care for established lawns by mulching, aerating, weeding, grubbing, removing thatch, or trimming or edging around flower beds, walks, or walls.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Numerous Job Openings

United States
5% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 149,500 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Landscaping services46.5%
  • Self-employed (their own business)20.2%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals7.4%
  • Real estate2.4%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: Up to 1 month

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: Up to 1 monthEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Most people start right after high school, and it usually takes only about a month of prior experience or on-the-job training to get going.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finishing high school is the typical education for this work. Outdoor jobs, math, and shop classes can help you get comfortable with tools and equipment.

  2. Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker

    Up to 1 month of prior experience, then ongoing

    You learn to mow, trim, plant, water, rake, and use hand and power tools on the job, usually under a crew leader. Building skill and reliability here is what opens doors to more responsibility.

Where it can lead

  1. Tree Trimmer and Pruner

    2-4 years of experience first

    You move into specialized work that involves pruning and trimming trees, which takes extra training in tree care and safe climbing or rigging practices.

  2. Landscaping Crew Supervisor

    2-4 years of experience first

    You lead a crew, plan daily work, train new workers, and handle customers. This role typically calls for an associate degree and strong leadership and communication skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, earth science, or agriculture classesThese classes teach how plants, soil, and weather work, which is useful knowledge for grounds work.
  • Get a summer or weekend job helping with yard workMowing, raking, and planting for neighbors or local businesses gives you hands-on experience with the tools and tasks you'll use on the job.
  • Join an FFA chapter or a school gardening clubClubs like these teach practical plant care and teamwork, and they often include hands-on projects you can list on a job application.
  • Volunteer with a park, community garden, or cleanup projectVolunteering shows you how public grounds are maintained and gives you a reference for future jobs.
  • Practice safe tool use and ask about safety trainingLearning to use mowers, trimmers, and other equipment safely builds good habits and makes you a more attractive hire.

In college

  • Take courses in horticulture, plant science, or turf managementThese courses teach plant care, soil, and grounds maintenance, which can help you move beyond entry-level tasks.
  • Work part-time or seasonally for a landscaping or grounds crewHands-on experience on a real crew builds skills and a work history that employers value.
  • Pursue a pesticide applicator or equipment safety certificationMany states and employers require or value certifications for applying pesticides or running equipment, and having one can open up more job options.
  • Join a horticulture or landscape student clubClubs offer networking, practical projects, and chances to meet people working in the field.
  • Build leadership experience through a student job or group roleLeading a team in a campus job or club prepares you for supervisor roles, which often require leadership skills.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask your employer or local parks department about on-the-job training, and learn to run tools safely and correctly from day one.
  • Show up on time, work hard, and ask questions. Crew leaders often notice reliable workers and recommend them for more responsibility.
  • Keep a simple record of the tasks you learn, such as mowing, irrigation, or planting, so you can show your experience when you apply for better jobs.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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