Landscaping & Ground Maintenance Career Information

The following information is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Grounds Maintenance Workers. Please visit the website for a more comprehensive breakdown of the data.

LINKS TO LANDSCAPING DIRECTORY PAGES


Hawaiʻi

WHAT LANDSCAPERS DO


Landscapers and grounds maintenance workers ensure that the grounds of houses, businesses, parks, and urban infrastructure are attractive, orderly, and healthy in order to provide a pleasant outdoor environment.

Job Duties


  • Mow, edge, and fertilize lawns
  • Weed and mulch landscape beds
  • Trim hedges, shrubs, and small trees
  • Remove dead, damaged, or unwanted trees
  • Plant flowers, trees, and shrubs
  • Water lawns, landscapes, and gardens
  • Monitor and maintain plant health

PAY


National Average Annual Pay (2019): $32,360

Top 5 States

1. Massachusetts

$39,720

2. Washington

$38,120

3. Alaska

$38,000

4. Hawaiʻi

$37,960

5. Connecticut

$37,890

Bottom 5 States

50. West Virginia

$25,590

49. Mississippi

$25,630

48. Arkansas

$26,400

47. Alabama

$27,520

46. Tennessee

$27,560

STEPS TO BECOME A LANDSCAPER


Most landscapers and grounds maintenance workers learn from on-the-job training. Training is typically a short period of time and involves learning how to use the various equipment such as trimmers, mowers, and any other machinery.

For more formal education, you can take courses in forestry, horticulture, and other agriculture programs to learn about the plants in your area.

Most states require landscapers to be licensed if they work with pesticides and fertilizer.

Certification is not required but the following organizations offer certifications in specialized areas:

  1. The National Association of Landscape Professionals

  2. The Tree Care Industry Association

  3. The International Society of Arboriculture

  4. The Professional Grounds Management Society
  • Option 1: Learn Skills from On-the-Job Training

  • Option 2: Enroll in an Agriculture Program

    Some community colleges offer associate’s degrees in agriculture programs. This can provide you with the knowledge of the plants in the area to better inform the decisions you make as a landscaper.

  • Get Licenses and Certifications

    This step is not required to be a landscaper, but it can show competency in more specialized areas. You likely will need a license if you will be working with pesticides and fertilizer.

QUALITIES OF LANDSCAPERS


Physical Stamina

Landscapers and grounds maintenance workers must be capable of doing physically strenuous labor for long hours, occasionally in extreme heat or cold.

Self- Motivated

Because they often work with little supervision, landscapers and grounds maintenance workers must be able to do their job independently.

Visualization

Landscapers and grounds maintenance workers must have the ability to imagine how plants, trees, shrubs, and other landscaping will look before planting or trimming.

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