First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers

What this job is

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in landscaping or groundskeeping activities. Work may involve reviewing contracts to ascertain service, machine, and workforce requirements; answering inquiries from potential customers regarding methods, material, and price ranges; and preparing estimates according to labor, material, and machine costs.

What they do day to day

• Establish and enforce operating procedures and work standards that will ensure adequate performance and personnel safety.
• Schedule work for crews, depending on work priorities, crew or equipment availability, or weather conditions.
• Tour grounds, such as parks, botanical gardens, cemeteries, or golf courses, to inspect conditions of plants and soil.
• Monitor project activities to ensure that instructions are followed, deadlines are met, and schedules are maintained.
• Direct activities of workers who perform duties, such as landscaping, cultivating lawns, or pruning trees and shrubs.
• Inspect completed work to ensure conformance to specifications, standards, and contract requirements.
• Plant or maintain vegetation through activities such as mulching, fertilizing, watering, mowing, or pruning.
• Direct or perform mixing or application of fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, or fungicides.
• Train workers in tasks such as transplanting or pruning trees or shrubs, finishing cement, using equipment, or caring for turf.
• Prepare service estimates based on labor, material, and machine costs and maintain budgets for individual projects.

Skills and knowledge that matter most

Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).

Education and preparation

Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.

Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.

Who this job suits

Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.

Job titles you'll see in postings

Related careers

• First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,920
• First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$59,320
• First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$79,860
• First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$49,100
• First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
• First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$48,560
• First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
• First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand