First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers earn a median of $58,430 per year ($28.09/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 4.0% through 2035, with about 23,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 37-1012
- Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers in four numbers
- Median pay
- $58,430a year, or $28.09/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $41KTop 10% $86K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.0%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 23,900243,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025243.3K
- Projected 2035253K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 243.3K Projected 2035 253K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school20%
- Certificate13.2%
- Some college10.4%
- Associate's13.6%
- Bachelor's32.3%
- Post-master’s certificate6.3%
Highest education held by first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers Segment Value High school 20% Certificate 13.2% Some college 10.4% Associate's 13.6% Bachelor's 32.3% Post-master’s certificate 6.3%
Also advertised as: Field Manager, Golf Course Superintendent, Grounds Crew Supervisor, Grounds Foreman, Grounds Maintenance Supervisor, Grounds Manager.
Pay
How much do First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers make?
Every first-line supervisor of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$58,430
Middle half earn $47,390 to $72,590
- 10th
- $40,560
- 25th
- $47,390
- 75th
- $72,590
- 90th
- $85,650
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,560 |
| 25th | $47,390 |
| Median | $58,430 |
| 75th | $72,590 |
| 90th | $85,650 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $58,430
- Median hourly wage
- $28.09/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $60,960
- People employed
- 130,760
Versus all US occupations
At $58,430, First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers earn 15% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $7,450 a year.
Versus building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
Inside the Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance group, where the middle occupation pays $46,340, this is 26% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $85,650 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,560, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 30% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Delaware pays the most at $74,340, and still leads at $74,483 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Delaware | $74,340 | $74,483 | 250 |
| 2Washington | $71,930 | $67,216 | 2,030 |
| 3New York | $70,760 | $65,566 | 6,320 |
| 4Oregon | $70,560 | $68,266 | 1,180 |
| 5New Jersey | $68,580 | $63,030 | 2,830 |
| 6District of Columbia | $68,300 | $62,147 | 80 |
| 7Alaska | $67,760 | $66,198 | 150 |
| 8Vermont | $66,810 | $68,203 | 160 |
| 9New Hampshire | $64,340 | $61,767 | 940 |
| 10Massachusetts | $63,750 | $60,280 | 2,510 |
Job outlook
Is First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +4.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | +4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers to change 4.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 9,700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 23,900 openings are projected each year, 9.8% of the 243,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers.
- Bachelor's Degree32.3%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)20%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree13.6%
- Post-Secondary Certificate13.2%
- Some College Courses10.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 32.3% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 20% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 13.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 13.2% |
| Some College Courses | 10.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers do?
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.
Day-to-day tasks
- Monitor project activities to ensure that instructions are followed, deadlines are met, and schedules are maintained.
- Inspect completed work to ensure conformance to specifications, standards, and contract requirements.
- Provide workers with assistance in performing duties as necessary to meet deadlines.
- Inventory supplies of tools, equipment, or materials to ensure that sufficient supplies are available and items are in usable condition.
- Recommend changes in working conditions or equipment used to increase crew efficiency.
- Maintain required records, such as personnel information or project records.
- Schedule work for crews, depending on work priorities, crew or equipment availability, or weather conditions.
- Direct activities of workers who perform duties, such as landscaping, cultivating lawns, or pruning trees and shrubs.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Learning Strategies3.1
- Writing3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 |
| Writing | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Time Management4.0
- Management of Personnel Resources3.9
- Coordination3.8
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
- Instructing3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Persuasion3.1
- Service Orientation3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Time Management | 4.0 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Time accounting software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising6.1
- Conventional5.2
- Realistic4.5
- Social3.0
- Investigative1.8
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
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More building and grounds cleaning and maintenance careers
Median annual pay, with first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers highlighted
- Sports Turf Manager$58,430
- First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$58,430
- Tree Trimmer and Pruner$50,960
- Consulting Arborist$50,960
- Utility Line Clearance Arborist$50,960
- First-Line Supervisor of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$49,100
- Pest Control Worker$45,250
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker$39,150
- Janitor and Cleaner, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36,840
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Sports Turf Manager | $58,430 |
| First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | $58,430 |
| Tree Trimmer and Pruner | $50,960 |
| Consulting Arborist | $50,960 |
| Utility Line Clearance Arborist | $50,960 |
| First-Line Supervisor of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers | $49,100 |
| Pest Control Worker | $45,250 |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker | $39,150 |
| Janitor and Cleaner, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $36,840 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within first-line supervisor of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers appears on
Questions
First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers: frequently asked questions
How much do First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers make?
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers earn a median of $58,430 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 15% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $28.09/hr. The middle half earn between $47,390 and $72,590. The top 10% earn $85,650 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 32.3% hold bachelor's degree.
Is First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 4.0% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 23,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers do?
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in landscaping or groundskeeping activities. A core O*NET task: monitor project activities to ensure that instructions are followed, deadlines are met, and schedules are maintained. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Presentation software.
Which states pay First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers the most?
The highest state medians for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers are Delaware ($74,340), Washington ($71,930), New York ($70,760) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers?
O*NET scores First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.