Building & Grounds Maintenance
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
Also called: Athletic Fieldskeeper, Greenskeeper, Grounds Maintenance Worker, Grounds Specialist
US median pay
$39,150
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+4.7%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
149,500
1,188,600 employed
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- Mow or edge lawns, using power mowers or edgers.
- Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chainsaws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
- Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush trimmers, or axes.
- Prune or trim trees, shrubs, or hedges, using shears, pruners, or chain saws.
- Gather and remove litter.
- Trim or pick flowers and clean flower beds.
- Care for established lawns by mulching, aerating, weeding, grubbing, removing thatch, or trimming or edging around flower beds, walks, or walls.
- Follow planned landscaping designs to determine where to lay sod, sow grass, or plant flowers or foliage.
- Water lawns, trees, or plants, using portable sprinkler systems, hoses, or watering cans.
- Maintain or repair tools, equipment, or structures, such as buildings, greenhouses, fences, or benches, using hand or power tools.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operation and Control3.0/5
- Operations Monitoring2.4/5
- Time Management2.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.1/5
- Equipment Selection2.1/5
- Coordination2.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.0/5
- Troubleshooting1.9/5
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service2.4/5
- Mechanical2.2/5
- Chemistry2.2/5
- English Language2.1/5
- Building and Construction2.1/5
- Transportation2.1/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): No formal educational credential.
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.