Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
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.
Table of contents
What they do
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.
- Gather and remove litter.
- Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedges or brush trimmers, or axes.
- Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chain-saws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
- Water lawns, trees, or plants, using portable sprinkler systems, hoses, or watering cans.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers gather and remove litter. They provide proper upkeep of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, fountains, planters, burial sites, or other grounds features.
A typical day for a Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker will also include:
- Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chain-saws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
- Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedges or brush trimmers, or axes.
- Care for established lawns by mulching, aerating, weeding, grubbing, removing thatch, or trimming or edging around flower beds, walks, or walls.
- Mow or edge lawns, using power mowers or edgers.
- Use irrigation methods to adjust the amount of water consumption and to prevent waste.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers also advise customers on plant selection or care. They may also water lawns, trees, or plants, using portable sprinkler systems, hoses, or watering cans.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Landscaping, and Groundskeeping Workers mix and spray or spread fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides onto grass, shrubs, or trees, using hand or automatic sprayers or spreaders. They might also Mow or edge lawns, using power mowers or edgers.
In addition, they rake, mulch, and compost leaves.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them maintain or repair tools, equipment, or structures, such as buildings, greenhouses, fences, or benches, using hand or power tools.
To some Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers, it is also their responsibility to attach wires from planted trees to support stakes.
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What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
71% said they were satisfied with their job and 62% said they found their job meaningful.
We have owned a commercial landscaping and lawn maintenance company for 22 years in Colorado.
Our typical day starts at 6:30 am! This is when we arrive at our facility to “load up” equipment for the crews and give direction on what needs to be done at the various job sites. Lawn maintenance work versus landscaping is very different.
The lawn maintenance crew is responsible for mowing, trimming, and blowing both commercial and residential properties on a weekly basis. Bi-weekly they weed planting beds, edge and do spot checks on irrigation to make sure everything is running properly. If repairs are needed, they are documented and scheduled. It seems like an easy process, however, when you are already working full days doing the “regular” work then have to do repairs afterwards, it becomes a long day.
The landscaping crew does mulch replenishment, replaces trees, plants flowers, etc. We have been in business for 22 years so we have the option of “picking and choosing” the jobs we want to take on. We no longer do “new builds”. Meaning, landscaping for new homes. There is a lot of competition for those jobs (and Colorado is growing by leaps and bounds!) and we no longer have the man power to provide services for those outside our existing client list. But we do extremely well with all the existing customers needs. When working for commercial properties we have to keep their buildings looking good so companies want to rent available office space and we happen to live and work in one of the wealthiest counties in the country, so estate care always comes with a lot of “extra” work. Over the 22 years, we have been in business we have figured out our perfect “niche” and who we want to work for.
Our biggest challenge currently is finding competent employees. When our kids were in high school and college we had a steady source of employees from their circle of friends! However, things have certainly changed. Even offering an extremely competitive wage with no experience, high school and college kids don’t want to “work hard”. As it is a seasonal job, with the exception of a couple year round employees, it has been our biggest challenge over the past couple of years.
But we still prevail as Shane and I have no problem working in the field side by side with the crews to make sure services are performed at the highest of standards. Our quality of work speaks for itself as we are a referral based company. We have not had to advertise for Pine Valley Landscaping for over 15 years.
We have found that as long as our quality of service exceeds expectations and we treat the customer with the respect they deserve, then work will always be available. I know it helps for our clients to see Shane or I on site regularly too. But we absolutely love what we do and although we don’t have the largest lawn maintenance and landscaping company in Colorado, we do have the best customer care and work ethic of any company! And that speaks volumes!
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.
It is very easy to get into this career. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Normal working hours (40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $22,800 to $27,060 per year or $11 to $13 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $48,310 | $23 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $38,930 | $19 |
| Median | $31,730 | $15 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $27,060 | $13 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $22,800 | $11 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch | $51980 | $24.99 |
| Truck Transportation | $43330 | $20.83 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $43030 | $20.69 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $42470 | $20.42 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $41910 | $20.15 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $40820 | $19.62 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | $40560 | $19.50 |
| Other Information Services | $40200 | $19.33 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $39880 | $19.17 |
| Specialty Hospitals | $39380 | $18.93 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | 555470 | $33900 | $16.30 |
| Local Government | 74950 | $35820 | $17.22 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | 64380 | $29560 | $14.21 |
| Real Estate | 25390 | $33210 | $15.97 |
| Employment Services | 15460 | $31220 | $15.01 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | 13450 | $38410 | $18.47 |
| Death Care Services | 13030 | $33490 | $16.10 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 12860 | $36450 | $17.53 |
| Traveler Accommodation | 8340 | $31800 | $15.29 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 7620 | $35260 | $16.95 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management
Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations
Ornamental Horticulture
Greenhouse Operations and Management
Landscaping and Groundskeeping
Plant Nursery Operations and Management
Turf and Turfgrass Management
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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