What is the salary and career path for a landscaper?
Landscapers are reported under Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (SOC 37-3011), a close match covering both maintenance and installation crews. The occupation shows a median of $39,150/yr ($18.82/hr) in the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, with $31,150 at the 10th percentile and $56,730 at the 90th. BLS Employment Projections show 3.6% growth 2024-2034 with roughly 158,200 openings a year, one of the largest openings counts of any occupation, reflecting both its size and high turnover. State pesticide applicator licensing, irrigation certification and crew leadership are the practical levers on pay.
- Landscapers are reported under Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (SOC 37-3011), a close match; the national median is $39,150/yr ($18.82/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025), with the top 10% at $56,730.
- Entry requires no credential - it is one of the most open trades - but the pay levers are all licensed or certified: state pesticide applicator licensing, Irrigation Association certification and NALP credentials.
- BLS projects 3.6% growth 2024-2034 with roughly 158,200 openings a year, among the highest openings counts of any occupation, driven by turnover and seasonality as much as growth.
- The realistic ladder is crew member to crew leader to account manager or owner-operator; installation and irrigation work pays above route maintenance.
Career Path
How do you become a landscaper?
Groundskeeper / crew member
Mowing, edging, blowing, mulching and seasonal cleanup on a maintenance route; entry pay sits near the SOC 37-3011 10th percentile of $31,150.
Landscaper
Pruning, planting, turf care and installation work with equipment responsibility and some client contact; around the BLS national median of $39,150.
Crew leader / licensed applicator
Running a crew and route, or holding a state pesticide applicator licence and certified irrigation credentials; tracks toward the 75th percentile of $46,830.
Account manager / owner-operator
Branch and account managers, landscape designers and owner-operators reach the 90th percentile at $56,730, with business income above that for owners.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays landscapers the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 37-3011. National median: $39,150. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does landscaper pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles landscapers most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: landscapers rank 4 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +3.6% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly landscapers clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 37-3011 (landscapers) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do landscapers need?
Required to apply pesticides and herbicides commercially, issued by the state department of agriculture under EPA certification standards; typically a core exam plus a turf and ornamental category exam, with continuing education at renewal. See all state licences →
Certified Irrigation Technician, Certified Irrigation Contractor and Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor credentials, covering installation, maintenance and water-efficiency auditing of irrigation systems.
National Association of Landscape Professionals certifications for technicians in softscape and hardscape installation and maintenance, and for managers, based on hands-on and written testing.
Some states require a contractor licence for landscape construction above a dollar threshold, or a separate irrigation contractor licence; requirements are set state by state rather than nationally.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do landscapers use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 37-3011
Salary Levers
How do landscapers earn above the $39,150 BLS median?
Pesticide applicator licensure
Unlicensed crew work sits near the $31,150 10th percentile, while a licensed applicator performing chemical turf and ornamental treatment commands a materially higher rate toward the $46,830 75th percentile.
Installation versus maintenance
Hardscape, grading and irrigation installation is skilled construction work priced above mow-and-blow route maintenance, and it is less commoditised.
Crew leadership and equipment responsibility
Crew leaders carry route scheduling, client contact and equipment accountability, the first supervisory step and the most common route above the median.
Ownership and account management
Owner-operators and branch or account managers holding commercial contracts reach and pass the $56,730 90th percentile, since the earnings are business margin rather than wage.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a landscaper worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 37-3011. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Landscaper Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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