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Landscaper: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$39,150median pay per year, or $18.82 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $31,150lowest 10% earn less
  2. $36,19025th percentile
  3. $39,150median
  4. $46,83075th percentile
  5. $56,730top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

A landscaper (BLS title: landscaping and groundskeeping worker) earned a median of $39,150 a year in May 2025, below the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. The job needs no formal degree, and employment is projected to grow 4.7% from 2025 to 2035[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4.7%[4]
Openings per year
149,500[6]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[3]

How much do landscapers make?

The median pay for landscaping and groundskeeping workers was $39,150 a year, or $18.82 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean (average) was $42,290 a year, or $20.33 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $31,150 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $36,190[5]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $46,830, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $56,730[5]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[8].

Measure Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[5][9] $31,150 $14.98
25th percentile[5][9] $36,190 $17.40
Median[1] $39,150 $18.82
75th percentile[5][9] $46,830 $22.52
90th percentile[5][9] $56,730 $27.28

These figures cover about 952,640 salaried jobs[10]. They leave out self-employed people, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[11]. In 2025, 20.2% of these workers were self-employed[12].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median at $48,790, followed by Massachusetts at $48,670 and Alaska at $47,690[13]. Mississippi had the lowest published median at $31,630[13].

California has the most jobs at 106,180[14]. Florida (86,040), Texas (63,430), New York (47,600) and Pennsylvania (34,850) come next[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Boston-Cambridge-Newton had the highest median at $49,030, followed by Barnstable Town at $49,010 and Kahului-Wailuku at $48,570[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 50,410, with a median of $45,530[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[13]$48,790800
Massachusetts$48,67022,880
Alaska$47,6901,080
Washington$46,95022,550
Minnesota$46,61017,610
Vermont$46,2302,700
Maine$45,9706,410
Hawaii$45,9207,040
Colorado$45,76021,990
Connecticut$45,74013,490
California$45,560106,180
Montana$45,3504,270
Oregon$45,04011,870
New Hampshire$44,8906,050
New York$44,84047,600
Rhode Island$44,7304,040
Illinois$43,79034,780
Idaho$41,6007,980
New Jersey$41,36030,470
Wisconsin$41,23018,970
North Dakota$40,7902,100
Utah$40,74012,850
Pennsylvania$39,50034,850
Maryland$39,38017,440
Kansas$39,3309,480
Nebraska$39,1407,280
Iowa$38,9208,800
Arizona$38,91022,450
Nevada$38,8209,980
Missouri$38,52018,310
Virginia$38,41025,180
Wyoming$38,3101,790
Ohio$38,22034,420
Michigan$38,12032,330
Indiana$38,07019,260
Georgia$37,97025,510
North Carolina$37,91032,730
New Mexico$37,5605,030
Delaware$37,3504,130
Florida$37,10086,040
Tennessee$37,02018,250
Texas$36,74063,430
South Carolina$36,71015,600
Kentucky$36,6708,920
Arkansas$35,7706,610
Oklahoma$35,7709,280
Alabama$35,63012,020
South Dakota$35,3702,980
Louisiana$34,8708,510
West Virginia$32,2403,340
Mississippi$31,6304,940

How to become a landscaper

The typical entry path needs no formal educational credential and no related work experience. The usual training is short-term, on the job[3]. The training details in this section come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of grounds maintenance workers[17]. The steps look like this:

A license usually means passing a test on using and disposing of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides[20]. Pesticide handlers and applicators may need extra training lasting up to 1 year[19]. Professional certification is not required, though it can show clients and employers that a worker is competent[21].

Some workers with formal education or several years of related experience become crew leaders or move into supervisory jobs. Others start their own business[22].

What landscapers do

Landscaping and groundskeeping workers care for the grounds of a property with hand tools and power equipment[23]. Typical tasks include:

Some jobs involve working at heights to cut tree limbs, and workers must be able to do strenuous labor[25][26]. Workers often have little supervision, so working independently matters[27].

Where they work

Grounds maintenance work is usually outdoors in all kinds of weather. It can be repetitive and physically demanding, with a lot of bending, kneeling, lifting and shoveling[28]. Services to buildings and dwellings employed 48% of grounds maintenance workers in 2025[29].

The work can be dangerous. Workers using mowers or chain saws wear protective gear, and so do those applying chemicals[30]. Fatalities are uncommon, but the rate is among the highest of all occupations[31].

Most workers are full time, and schedules vary. Spring, summer and fall are busier[32]. Some jobs are seasonal, and some workers take on other services in winter, such as snow removal[33]. This text describes the wider group of grounds maintenance workers[17].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 4.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,188,600 to 1,244,200 jobs, a gain of 55,600[4]. That is a little faster than the 3.5% projected for all occupations[34]. These counts include self-employed workers[4].

About 149,500 openings a year are projected on average[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 4.6% of workers leave the labor force and 7.2% move to a different occupation[35].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to an easy way in, since no degree is needed and training is short[3][19]. Pay is below the all-occupations median, and the work is physically demanding and sometimes seasonal[1][2][28][33]. Growth is slightly ahead of average, with a large number of openings each year[4][34][6]. Some workers move up to crew leader roles or start their own business[22].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a landscaper make an hour?
The median was $18.82 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $20.33[1][7]. The 10th percentile was $14.98 and the 90th was $27.28[9].
Do you need a degree to be a landscaper?
No. The typical entry path needs no formal educational credential[3].
How long does it take to learn landscaping work?
Workers typically need 1 month or less of on-the-job training[19]. This comes from a profile covering a wider group of grounds maintenance workers[19][17].
Is landscaping in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 4.7% from 2025 to 2035[4], against 3.5% for all occupations[34]. About 149,500 openings a year are projected[4][34][6].
What is the highest paying state for landscapers?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $48,790, followed by Massachusetts at $48,670[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers in the US was $39,150 per year and $18.82 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers is projected to grow 4.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,188,600 to 1,244,200 jobs (a change of +55,600). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers: 10th percentile $31,150, 25th percentile $36,190, 75th percentile $46,830, 90th percentile $56,730. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 149,500 openings for Landscaping 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
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers was $42,290 per year and $20.33 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. 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
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers: 10th percentile $14.98, 25th percentile $17.40, 75th percentile $22.52, 90th percentile $27.28. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 952,640 people were employed as Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. 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
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 20.2% of Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers jobs: California 106,180; Florida 86,040; Texas 63,430; New York 47,600; Pennsylvania 34,850. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $49,030; Barnstable Town, MA $49,010; Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,570; Napa, CA $48,540; Fairbanks-College, AK $48,520; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $48,480; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,330; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $48,080. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 50,410 (median $45,530); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 27,860 (median $44,650); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 25,160 (median $45,280); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 21,170 (median $37,430); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 19,750 (median $37,680); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 17,700 (median $42,130). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Grounds Maintenance Workers" covers Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET description of Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of grounds maintenance workers in 2025: Services to buildings and dwellings 48%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers: 4.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

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.