### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Grounds Maintenance Workers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			grounds maintenance workers imageGrounds maintenance workers work outdoors in all kinds of weather.							
						Quick Facts:     Grounds Maintenance Workers2023     Median Pay
            						$37,690     per year
										$18.12     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    See How to Become OneWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    See How to Become OneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    1,281,600Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    3% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    44,200What Grounds Maintenance Workers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Grounds maintenance workers install and maintain landscapes, prune trees or shrubs, and do other tasks to ensure that vegetation is attractive, orderly, and safe.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Most grounds maintenance work is done outdoors in all weather conditions. Some work is seasonal, available mainly in the spring, summer, and fall. The work may be repetitive and physically demanding, requiring frequent bending, kneeling, lifting, or shoveling.
            
                                                How to Become a Grounds Maintenance Worker
                                                
                        
Grounds maintenance workers typically do not need a formal educational credential and are trained on the job. States may require licensing for workers who apply pesticides and fertilizers.
            
                        Pay
                        																																					    														The median hourly wage for grounds maintenance workers was $18.12 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of grounds maintenance workers is projected to grow							 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 170,300 openings for grounds maintenance workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for grounds maintenance workers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of grounds maintenance workers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about grounds maintenance workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Grounds Maintenance Workers Do 
            

			Grounds maintenance workersGrounds maintenance workers mow, edge, and fertilize lawns.			
Grounds maintenance workers install and maintain landscapes, prune trees or shrubs, and do other tasks to ensure that vegetation is attractive, orderly, and safe.
Duties
Grounds maintenance workers typically do the following:
Mow, edge, and fertilize lawns
Weed and mulch landscape beds
Trim hedges, shrubs, and small trees
Remove dead, damaged, or unwanted trees or branches
Plant flowers, trees, shrubs, and other plants
Apply pesticides, herbicides, or other treatments to plants or soil
Water lawns, landscapes, and gardens
Monitor and maintain plant healthGrounds maintenance workers do a variety of tasks to achieve pleasant and functional environments. They care for outdoor grounds of businesses, homes, parks, and other spaces and for indoor plants in hotels, malls, botanical gardens, and other commercial and public facilities. They generally work under the direction of a landscaping, lawn service, or groundskeeping supervisor.
Depending on their specific tasks, grounds maintenance workers may use a variety of handheld tools (such as such as garden shears, spray applicators, and shovels) and power equipment (including lawnmowers, chain saws, and backhoes).
The following are examples of types of grounds maintenance workers:
***Landscaping workers*** plant flowers, shrubs, trees, and other vegetation to create new outdoor spaces or to upgrade existing ones. They also trim, fertilize, mulch, and water plants. Some grade and install lawns or construct hardscapes such as walkways, patios, and decks. Others help install lighting or sprinkler systems. Landscaping workers attend to a variety of commercial and residential settings, such as apartment buildings, homes, hotels and motels, office buildings, and shopping malls.
***Groundskeeping workers***, also called *groundskeepers*, focus on property upkeep. Their duties include maintaining plants and trees, raking and mulching leaves, and laying sod. They also care for ornamental features, such as fountains, planters, and benches; clear snow and debris from walkways and parking lots; and tend to groundskeeping equipment. They work on many of the same settings that landscaping workers do, as well as on athletic fields, cemeteries, and other lands that need maintenance.
Groundskeeping workers who care for athletic fields keep natural and artificial turf in top condition, mark boundaries, and may paint turf with team logos and names before events. They regularly mow, water, fertilize, and aerate natural fields and ensure that the underlying soil drains properly. They also vacuum and disinfect artificial turf to prevent growth of harmful bacteria and replace worn turf or cushioning periodically.
In parks and recreation facilities, groundskeepers care for lawns, trees, and shrubs. They also maintain playgrounds; clean buildings and inspect, repair, and paint them as needed; and keep parking lots, picnic areas, and other spaces free of litter. They may erect and dismantle snow fences and maintain swimming pools.
Some groundskeepers specialize in caring for cemeteries and memorial gardens. They dig graves to specified depths. They mow grass regularly, apply fertilizers and other chemicals, prune shrubs and trees, plant flowers, and remove debris from graves.
***Greenskeepers*** maintain golf courses. Although similar overall to that of groundskeepers, their work on turf maintenance may be more complex. They also periodically relocate holes on putting greens and maintain canopies, benches, and tee markers along the course.
***Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators*** apply herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides to plants or soil to prevent or control weeds, insects, and diseases. They inspect lawns for problems and apply chemical or other treatments to stimulate growth and prevent or control threats to cultivated plants.
***Tree trimmers and pruners***, also called *arborists,* cut away dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs to clear utility lines, roads, sidewalks, and other areas. Some specialize in diagnosing and treating tree diseases. Others specialize in pruning, trimming, and shaping ornamental trees and shrubs.
 Work Environment
			Grounds maintenance workersTree trimmers and pruners use chainsaws, chippers, and stump grinders while on the job.			

	    
				
	
	    	    		Grounds maintenance workers held about 1.3 million jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up grounds maintenance workers was distributed as follows:
    	    	
    	Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
                1,176,100Tree trimmers and pruners
                66,000Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation
                23,200Grounds maintenance workers, all other
                16,300The largest employers of grounds maintenance workers were as follows:
        Services to buildings and dwellings
                47%Self-employed workers
                20Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries
                7Government
                7Educational services; state, local, and private
                3Grounds maintenance work is usually done outdoors in all kinds of weather. The work may be repetitive and physically demanding, requiring frequent bending, kneeling, lifting, and shoveling.
Injuries and Illnesses
Grounds maintenance work may be dangerous. Workers who use equipment such as lawnmowers and chain saws must wear protective clothing, eyewear, and earplugs. Those who apply chemicals such as pesticides or fertilizers must wear protective gear, including appropriate clothing, gloves, goggles, and sometimes respirators.
Tree trimmers and pruners and grounds maintenance workers, all other, have some of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. ("All other" titles represent occupations with a wide range of characteristics that do not fit into any of the other detailed occupations.)
Although fatalities are uncommon, tree trimmers and pruners experience one of the highest rates of fatalities of all occupations. These workers are often at great heights and must use fall protection gear and wear hardhats and goggles for most activities.
Work Schedules
Most grounds maintenance workers are full time, and their work schedules may vary. These workers may be busier or work longer hours in the spring, summer, and fall, when planting, mowing, and trimming activities are most frequent.
Some jobs are seasonal. However, grounds maintenance workers sometimes provide other services during the winter months, such as snow removal.
 How to Become a Grounds Maintenance Worker

			Grounds maintenance workersSome workers study topics such as landscape design or horticulture.			
Grounds maintenance workers typically do not need a formal educational credential and are trained on the job. States may require licensing for workers who apply pesticides or fertilizers.
Education
Entry-level grounds maintenance jobs typically have no formal education requirements, although employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a high school diploma or equivalent. Prospective grounds maintenance workers may benefit from studying topics such as landscape design, horticulture, or arboriculture.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Most states require licensing for workers who apply pesticides. Licensing for workers who handle fertilizers varies by state. Obtaining a license usually involves passing a test on the proper use and disposal of insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Check with your state’s licensing official for more information.
Although professional certification is not required, it demonstrates competency and reliability for prospective clients and employers. For example, the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) offer credentials in landscaping and grounds maintenance for workers at various experience levels. The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) and the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) offer certifications for tree care workers.
Training
Grounds maintenance workers typically need 1 month or less of on-the-job training to learn the skills they need, including how to plant and maintain areas and how to use mowers, trimmers, leaf blowers, small tractors, and other equipment. Pesticide sprayers, handlers, and applicators may need additional training that lasts up to 1 year. Large institutional employers such as golf courses, university campuses, and municipalities may supplement on-the-job training with instruction in horticulture, arboriculture, urban forestry, insect and disease diagnosis, tree climbing, or small-engine repair.
Advancement
Grounds maintenance workers who have other qualifications, such as formal education or several years of related experience, may become crew leaders or advance into other supervisory positions. Some workers use their experience to start their own business, such as a landscaping company.
Important Qualities
***Ability to work at heights.***Tree trimmers and pruners and other grounds maintenance workers must be comfortable working high off the ground when cutting tree limbs and branches.
***Communication skills.*** Grounds maintenance workers must be able to convey information and instructions to clients, customers, and supervisors.
***Dexterity*.** Grounds maintenance workers******must have good eye, foot, and hand coordination when using dangerous or heavy equipment such as backhoes, mowers, and tractors.
***Physical stamina*.** Grounds maintenance workers must be able to do strenuous labor for long periods of time, occasionally in extreme heat or cold.
***Physical strength.***These workers may need to be able to lift heavy equipment or supplies.
***Self-motivated*.** Because they often work with little supervision, grounds maintenance workers must be able to do their tasks independently.
***Visualization*.**Grounds maintenance workers must be****able to imagine how plants, shrubs, trees, and other landscaping will look before planting or trimming.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Grounds Maintenance WorkersMedian hourly wages, May 2023Total, all occupations$23.11   Grounds maintenance workers$18.12   Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations$17.30Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median hourly wage for grounds maintenance workers was $18.12 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $14.03, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $26.38.

			
                    	Median hourly wages for grounds maintenance workers in May 2023 were as follows:
        Tree trimmers and pruners
		$23.59Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation
		21.19Grounds maintenance workers, all other
		20.82Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
		17.96In May 2023, the median hourly wages for grounds maintenance workers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Educational services; state, local, and private
                $19.67Services to buildings and dwellings
                18.40Government
                18.11Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries
                16.44Most grounds maintenance workers are full time, and their work schedules may vary. These workers may be busier or work longer hours in the spring, summer, and fall, when planting, mowing, and trimming activities are most frequent.
Some jobs are seasonal. However, grounds maintenance workers sometimes provide other services during the winter months, such as snow removal.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Grounds Maintenance WorkersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Grounds maintenance workers3%  Total, all occupations3%  Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations2%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of grounds maintenance workers is projected to grow				 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 170,300 openings for grounds maintenance workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers will be needed to keep up with increasing demand for lawn care and landscaping services from homeowners and from large institutions, such as universities and corporate campuses. As communities invest resources in creating more green spaces in urban areas, the demand for ground maintenance workers to plant and maintain these landscapes will increase.
			

                        Employment projections data for     grounds maintenance workers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Grounds maintenance workers**
			—
			1,281,600
			1,325,800
			3
			44,200
			—**Landscaping and groundskeeping workers**
			37-3011
			1,176,100
			1,217,900
			4
			41,700
			Get data**Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation**
			37-3012
			23,200
			23,700
			2
			500
			Get data**Tree trimmers and pruners**
			37-3013
			66,000
			67,600
			3
			1,700
			Get data**Grounds maintenance workers, all other**
			37-3019
			16,300
			16,600
			2
			400
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Grounds maintenance workers, all other
					Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
					Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation
					Tree trimmers and pruners **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of grounds maintenance workers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Agricultural Workers**
            Agricultural workers maintain crops and tend livestock.
            See How to Become One
            $34,790**Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers**
            Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers run establishments that produce crops, livestock, and dairy products.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $83,770**Forest and Conservation Workers**
            Forest and conservation workers perform physical labor to improve the quality of natural areas such as forests, rangelands, and wetlands.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $33,940**Janitors and Building Cleaners**
            Janitors and building cleaners keep many types of buildings clean, sanitary, orderly, and in good condition.
            No formal educational credential
            $35,020**Landscape Architects**
            Landscape architects design parks and other outdoor spaces.
            Bachelor's degree
            $79,320**Logging Workers**
            Logging workers harvest forests to provide the raw material for many consumer goods and industrial products.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $48,910**Pest Control Workers**
            Pest control workers remove insects, rodents, and other pests that infest buildings and surrounding areas.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $43,470
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about tree trimmers and pruners, including certification, visit
International Society of Arboriculture
Tree Care Industry Association
For information about landscaping and groundskeeping workers, visit
National Association of Landscape Professionals
Professional Grounds Management Society
For information about becoming a licensed pesticide applicator, contact your state’s licensing official.

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Grounds Maintenance Workers, All OtherLandscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersPesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, VegetationTree Trimmers and Pruners
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Grounds Maintenance Workers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/building-and-grounds-cleaning/grounds-maintenance-workers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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