Landscaper & Groundskeeper Career Guide

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Skilled Trades · Career guide

Landscaper and groundskeeper: see the results of work over time.

Outdoor spaces keep changing after a project is finished. Groundskeeping and landscaping involve returning, noticing what needs attention, and keeping a place useful and cared for. If you like physical work outdoors, explore the routine behind the finished landscape.

A landscaped garden with maintained planting beds and a wooden bridge

$40,080Median annual pay · May 2025
On-the-job trainingTypical entry route
Residential, commercial, and public groundsWhere the work happens

Installation and ongoing care are different jobs

Grounds maintenance workers plant, mow, trim, and maintain outdoor spaces. Employers may serve homes, businesses, parks, or institutions. Some focus on installation, while others concentrate on regular upkeep or particular specialties.

Knowing which kind of work you want will help you read job advertisements more accurately. A broad title does not tell you how a crew spends its week.

Many workers learn while employed

A formal educational credential is usually not required. On-the-job training is common, while specialized tasks may need additional preparation. States may require licensing for workers who apply pesticides or certain fertilizers. Check the duties of the opening and the requirements that go with them.

Enjoying the outdoors needs a practical test

The work is physical, and weather or season can affect the schedule. Equipment care and attention to nearby people and property are part of a dependable routine. Consider how you feel about repeated maintenance as well as the visible change of a new planting.

Ask what the season looks like

Find out which tasks fill the busiest periods and what work is available at other times. Discuss travel between properties and how the crew trains beginners. Those details help you understand the job beyond a pleasant day outdoors.

Recognize the broad wage category

The figure above covers the wider grounds maintenance worker group. Individual landscaping specialties can differ. Compare the duties, hours, and seasonal arrangements of local positions before using the median to judge an offer.

Choose a setting you would like to maintain

Look at a park, institutional grounds, or residential service employer. Ask how its crew balances routine upkeep with new projects and which skills a beginner learns first.

Sources & photo credits

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational profile · Career information and May 2025 wage data. Requirements vary by employer and location.

Photograph: PxHere · CC0 public-domain dedication. Images illustrate the work or its setting.

Useful Resources

Check current eligibility and local requirements before selecting exam preparation or training.