All careers › First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
Golf course superintendent: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $40,560lowest 10% earn less
- $47,39025th percentile
- $58,430median
- $72,59075th percentile
- $85,650top 10% earn more
Golf course superintendents fall in the BLS category of first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers. The median pay for that category was $58,430 a year in May 2025[1], and the typical entry path asks for a high school diploma plus related experience[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +4%[5]
- Openings per year
- 23,900[6]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[2]
How much do golf course superintendents make?
BLS does not publish a separate figure for golf course superintendents. The numbers here are for the wider category of supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers, and O*NET lists golf course superintendent as one of its job titles[7].
The median pay was $58,430 a year, or $28.09 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $60,960 a year, or $29.31 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4], so this job's median is higher.
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $40,560 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $47,390[3]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $72,590, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $85,650[3]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $19.50 and the 90th was $41.18[9]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].
These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed and owners, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits[11]. This matters here, because 46.8% of these supervisors were self-employed in 2025[12].
Pay by state and city
Delaware had the highest state median at $74,340, followed by Washington at $71,930 and New York at $70,760[13]. Mississippi had the lowest listed median at $47,130[13].
The most jobs were in California (14,850), Florida (12,020) and Texas (11,260)[14]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Salinas, CA had the highest median at $78,730, then San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $76,990[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 6,100, with a median of $74,610[16].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware[13] | $74,340 | 250 |
| Washington | $71,930 | 2,030 |
| New York | $70,760 | 6,320 |
| Oregon | $70,560 | 1,180 |
| New Jersey | $68,580 | 2,830 |
| District of Columbia | $68,300 | 80 |
| Alaska | $67,760 | 150 |
| Vermont | $66,810 | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $64,340 | 940 |
| Massachusetts | $63,750 | 2,510 |
| California | $63,270 | 14,850 |
| Connecticut | $62,740 | 1,860 |
| Wisconsin | $62,630 | 2,690 |
| Hawaii | $62,570 | n/a |
| Maine | $62,300 | 790 |
| Minnesota | $62,280 | n/a |
| North Dakota | $62,280 | 280 |
| Indiana | $62,040 | 2,230 |
| Kansas | $61,270 | 1,110 |
| Colorado | $60,840 | 4,390 |
| South Dakota | $60,680 | 340 |
| South Carolina | $60,100 | 2,250 |
| Rhode Island | $59,940 | 730 |
| Montana | $59,460 | 650 |
| New Mexico | $59,120 | 530 |
| Michigan | $58,840 | 4,000 |
| Virginia | $58,400 | 3,380 |
| Idaho | $58,200 | 1,120 |
| Nebraska | $57,820 | 1,010 |
| Iowa | $57,670 | 1,140 |
| Kentucky | $57,670 | 1,360 |
| Nevada | $57,250 | 1,530 |
| Utah | $57,200 | 2,080 |
| North Carolina | $56,930 | 4,300 |
| Arizona | $56,410 | 2,530 |
| Wyoming | $56,230 | 220 |
| West Virginia | $55,910 | 390 |
| Ohio | $55,680 | 4,120 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,450 | 5,610 |
| Georgia | $54,830 | 4,770 |
| Maryland | $54,730 | 3,900 |
| Tennessee | $53,700 | 2,020 |
| Illinois | $53,340 | 3,460 |
| Alabama | $52,710 | 1,720 |
| Florida | $51,290 | 12,020 |
| Arkansas | $49,890 | 1,140 |
| Oklahoma | $49,700 | 1,180 |
| Missouri | $48,710 | 1,760 |
| Louisiana | $48,410 | n/a |
| Texas | $47,630 | 11,260 |
| Mississippi | $47,130 | 820 |
How to become a golf course superintendent
BLS describes the typical path into the wider category like this[2]:
- First: finish high school or an equivalent. That is the usual entry education[2].
- Next: build work experience in a related occupation. The listed amount is less than 5 years[2].
- Then: expect no typical on-the-job training[2].
In an ONET survey of 18 workers, answers about required education were mixed[17]. 32% said a bachelor's degree, 20% a high school diploma or equivalent, 14% an associate's degree, and 13% a post-secondary certificate[17]. That is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture. ONET puts the job in a zone where previous work-related skill, knowledge or experience is required[18].
What golf course superintendents and grounds supervisors do
ONET describes the work as directly supervising and coordinating workers who do landscaping or groundskeeping. It can also involve reviewing contracts, answering customer questions and preparing estimates[19]. Tasks listed by ONET include:
- Setting and enforcing work standards and safety rules[20].
- Scheduling crews around priorities, equipment and weather[20].
- Walking grounds such as parks, gardens, cemeteries or golf courses to check plants and soil[20].
- Checking that projects meet deadlines and schedules[20].
- Inspecting finished work against specifications and contracts[20].
- Directing or doing the mixing and application of fertilizers and pest-control products[20].
- Training workers in tasks such as pruning, equipment use and turf care[20].
- Preparing cost estimates and keeping project budgets[20].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 243,300 to 253,000 jobs[5]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[21]. These counts include self-employed workers[5].
About 23,900 openings a year are projected[6]. Openings include jobs created when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.1% of workers leave the labor force and 6.1% move to a different occupation[22].
Is it a good fit?
The listed entry path asks for a high school diploma and some related experience[2]. The median of $58,430 is above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][4]. Projected growth of 4% is a little above the 3.5% for all occupations[5][21]. Nearly half of these supervisors were self-employed[12], so wage figures describe only part of the field[11]. State medians range from $47,130 to $74,340, so location affects pay[13].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a golf course superintendent make?
- BLS reports the wider category of landscaping and groundskeeping supervisors. Its median was $58,430 a year, or $28.09 an hour, in May 2025[1].
- What education do you need to be a grounds supervisor?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with less than 5 years of related experience[2].
- Is the grounds supervisor field growing?
- BLS projects 4% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 23,900 openings a year[5][21][6].
- What is the highest paying state for grounds supervisors?
- Delaware had the highest median at $74,340 a year, followed by Washington at $71,930[13].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers in the US was $58,430 per year and $28.09 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers: 10th percentile $40,560, 25th percentile $47,390, 75th percentile $72,590, 90th percentile $85,650. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers is projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 243,300 to 253,000 jobs (a change of +9,700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: about 23,900 openings for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- O*NET 37-1012.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Field Manager, Golf Course Superintendent, Grounds Crew Supervisor, Grounds Foreman, Grounds Maintenance Supervisor, Grounds Manager, Grounds Supervisor, Groundskeeper Supervisor. O*NET OnLine
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers was $60,960 per year and $29.31 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers: 10th percentile $19.50, 25th percentile $22.79, 75th percentile $34.90, 90th percentile $41.18. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: 46.8% of First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- Median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers jobs: California 14,850; Florida 12,020; Texas 11,260; New York 6,320; Pennsylvania 5,610. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Salinas, CA $78,730; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $76,990; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $76,910; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $76,490; Napa, CA $75,040; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $74,610; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $73,670; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $72,800. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 6,100 (median $74,610); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,220 (median $61,350); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 3,560 (median $47,850); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 2,960 (median $51,340); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 2,800 (median $58,960); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,690 (median $60,460). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 37-1012.00 survey of workers (18 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 32%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 20%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 14%, Post-Secondary Certificate 13%, Some College Courses 10%, Post-Master's Certificate 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 37-1012.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers: 3.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.