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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.
Other titles employers use
Gardener · Greenskeeper · Grounds Maintenance Worker · Grounds Person · Grounds Specialist · Grounds Worker · Groundskeeper · Landscape Specialist
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Gather and remove litter.
- Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush trimmers, or axes.
- Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chainsaws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
- Water lawns, trees, or plants, using portable sprinkler systems, hoses, or watering cans.
- Prune or trim trees, shrubs, or hedges, using shears, pruners, or chain saws.
- Mix and spray or spread fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides onto grass, shrubs, or trees, using hand or automatic sprayers or spreaders.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Operation and Control
Subjects to know
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
Useful strengths
- Multilimb Coordination
- Manual Dexterity
- Trunk Strength
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Control Precision
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.0 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 4.3 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.0 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 4.3 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Most employers do not ask for a formal credential. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 48%
- A certificate or some college 31%
- A four-year degree 18%
- A two-year degree 3%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Web page creation and editing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Operating system software
- Word processing software
- Electronic mail software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 162,100
- Job openings each year
- 21,620
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 19.9%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 162,100 | 21,620 | 19.9% |
| Florida | 129,030 | 17,040 | 15.0% |
| Texas | 99,030 | 13,130 | 16.7% |
| New York | 74,490 | 780 | 11.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 44,860 | 5,760 | 3.1% |
| Illinois | 44,280 | 5,690 | 3.3% |
| Ohio | 42,650 | 5,470 | 2.3% |
| North Carolina | 41,960 | 5,500 | 11.6% |
| Michigan | 35,780 | 4,540 | — |
| New Jersey | 35,470 | 4,590 | 6.4% |
| Washington | 35,400 | 5,220 | 16.9% |
| Colorado | 33,540 | 4,420 | 14.0% |
| Arizona | 32,030 | 4,220 | 13.3% |
| Virginia | 31,030 | 3,990 | 3.7% |
| Georgia | 30,690 | 4,050 | 14.1% |
| Indiana | 25,910 | 3,340 | 4.1% |
| Maryland | 25,300 | 3,280 | 6.8% |
| Wisconsin | 24,580 | 3,220 | 11.0% |
| Minnesota | 23,210 | 3,010 | 6.3% |
| South Carolina | 22,460 | 2,950 | 11.6% |
| Tennessee | 22,460 | 2,950 | 12.8% |
| Missouri | 22,380 | 2,890 | 4.8% |
| Connecticut | 20,810 | 2,750 | 14.6% |
| Utah | 19,690 | 2,700 | 35.2% |
| Oregon | 17,260 | 2,280 | 14.8% |
| Alabama | 15,080 | 1,960 | 7.6% |
| Oklahoma | 13,210 | 1,730 | 10.0% |
| Puerto Rico | 12,970 | 1,720 | 16.4% |
| Kentucky | 12,590 | 1,630 | 7.4% |
| Nevada | 11,930 | 1,580 | 16.2% |
| Kansas | 11,360 | 1,470 | 5.1% |
| Iowa | 11,030 | 1,430 | 6.4% |
| Louisiana | 10,940 | 1,400 | 2.4% |
| Massachusetts | 9,820 | 1,270 | 6.7% |
| Idaho | 9,600 | 1,270 | 14.8% |
| Nebraska | 9,280 | 1,210 | 7.4% |
| Arkansas | 8,500 | 1,120 | 12.4% |
| New Hampshire | 8,370 | 1,090 | 10.0% |
| Mississippi | 8,020 | 1,050 | 9.0% |
| Maine | 7,470 | 950 | — |
| New Mexico | 6,660 | 880 | 15.6% |
| Rhode Island | 6,620 | 860 | 6.4% |
| Vermont | 4,890 | 650 | 14.0% |
| West Virginia | 4,840 | 630 | 12.3% |
| Delaware | 4,500 | 580 | 1.8% |
| Montana | 4,440 | 590 | 13.6% |
| South Dakota | 4,070 | 530 | 11.5% |
| North Dakota | 3,310 | 430 | 11.1% |
| Wyoming | 2,880 | 390 | 24.1% |
| Alaska | 1,460 | 190 | 5.8% |
| District of Columbia | 700 | 90 | 11.1% |
| Guam | 630 | 80 | 8.6% |
| Virgin Islands | 250 | 30 | 8.7% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Brigham Young University-Idaho
- Degrees each year
- 87
- Admit rate
- 97%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 111
- Admit rate
- 54%
- Annual cost after aid
- $26,000
Texas A & M University-College Station
- Degrees each year
- 33
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Brigham Young University
- Degrees each year
- 29
- Admit rate
- 69%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
University of Rhode Island
- Degrees each year
- 24
- Admit rate
- 77%
- Annual cost after aid
- $18,000
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
- Degrees each year
- 83
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Clemson University
- Degrees each year
- 114
- Admit rate
- 38%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Florida International University
- Degrees each year
- 127
- Admit rate
- 59%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Compare every college offering applied horticulture and horticultural business services