Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Grounds Maintenance Worker
- Grounds Worker
- Groundskeeper
- Outside Maintenance Worker
Alternate Job Titles
- Athletic Field Custodian
- Bonsai Tender
- Brush Cutter
- Caretaker
- Cemetery Keeper
- Cemetery Laborer
- Cemetery Warden
- Cemetery Worker
- Equipment Operator
- Flower Picker
- Flower Planter
- Gardener
- Golf Course Keeper
- Golf Course Laborer
- Golf Course Maintenance Worker
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Care for established lawns by mulching, aerating, weeding, grubbing, removing thatch, or trimming or edging around flower beds, walks, or walls.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Move furniture.
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Multilimb Coordination
- Manual Dexterity
- Trunk Strength
- Extent Flexibility
- Static Strength
- Control Precision
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Visualization
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Perseverance
- Cautiousness
- Integrity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Support
- Achievement
- Independence
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Adjustable widemouth pliers
- Adjustable wrenches
- Aerial lift trucks
- Arena rakes
- Artificial turf groomers
- Axes
- Backhoes
- Backpack blowers
- Backpack pump sprayers
- Box blades
- Brush trimmers
- Bucket loaders
- Bunker rakes
- Cargo trucks
- Chain saws
Work Environment
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $29,990 |
| Median | $38,090 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $53,900 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 943,430
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $45,200
Tree Trimmers and Pruners
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $50,430
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $35,690
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $56,170
Agricultural Equipment Operators
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $42,580
Is This Career Right for You?
Discover your perfect career match with our free comprehensive assessment! Get personalized recommendations based on your interests, skills, and values.
Take the Free Career Assessment →
Want Personalized Guidance?
For customized career recommendations, college selection strategies, and expert application support, explore the MehtA+ Admissions Consulting Program. We help students identify the right opportunities and navigate the path to achieving their academic and career goals.
Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.