Manages the natural and synthetic playing surfaces of stadiums, college fields, and park complexes so they stay safe, consistent, and ready for play. BLS does not publish separate figures for first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers; it counts them within first-line supervisor of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers (SOC 37-1012), whose median pay is $58,430 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). 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
Sports Turf Manager 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: Sports Field Manager, Head Groundskeeper, Director of Grounds, Stadium Turf Manager, Athletic Turf Manager.
Pay
How much do First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers make?
Every sports turf manager 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 Sports Turf Manager 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 Sports Turf Manager
Many sports turf managers hold a two-year or four-year degree in turfgrass science, agronomy, or horticulture; Penn State, Michigan State, and other land-grant universities run well-known turfgrass programs. Others start on grounds crews and learn on the job. A state pesticide applicator license is commonly required.
The Sports Field Management Association (SFMA, formerly the Sports Turf Managers Association) offers the Certified Sports Field Manager (CSFM) credential, which combines education, experience, and an exam. Internships with professional teams and major college programs are a common route to head groundskeeper jobs.
- 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 Sports Turf Manager do?
Sports turf managers are responsible for the fields where games are played. They plan mowing, irrigation, fertilization, aeration, and overseeding programs, test soil and turf health, and manage pests and diseases. On game days they paint lines and logos, prepare infield clay and pitchers' mounds, and make calls about tarps and rain delays.
At stadiums that host concerts and other events, they protect or replace turf between uses. On synthetic fields they manage infill, grooming, and impact testing. Most also supervise a grounds crew, manage equipment and budgets, and work with coaches and event staff on scheduling to keep wear in check.
Day-to-day tasks
- Plan and carry out mowing, irrigation, fertility, and aeration programs
- Diagnose turf diseases, pests, and soil problems and choose treatments
- Paint field lines, logos, and markings for games and events
- Prepare baseball and softball infields, mounds, and batters' boxes
- Test synthetic surfaces for hardness and maintain infill
- Supervise grounds crew members and schedule their work
- Manage equipment, supply budgets, and field use schedules
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
The work is outdoors in all weather, with early mornings, long days in the growing season, and night and weekend events. It is physical, involving equipment operation, lifting, and hours on foot. Managers also spend time in a shop office planning budgets and schedules.
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 Sports Turf Manager?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RIE) built on O*NET's First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Sports Turf Manager |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| 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 hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Enterprising6.1
- Realistic5.0
- Conventional5.0
- Social3.0
- Investigative2.9
- 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
Careers related to Sports Turf Manager
O*NET related occupations
- Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
$58,430median a year
Most earn $41K to $86K
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First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
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+5.0%High school - Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
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$59,320median a year
Most earn $39K to $92K
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Most earn $50K to $127K
+4.1%High school - Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
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+5.3%High school
- First-Line Supervisor of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators · $62,840 median
- First-Line Supervisor of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand · $62,840 median
More building and grounds cleaning and maintenance careers
Median annual pay, with first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers highlighted
- First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$58,430
- Sports Turf Manager$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 |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | $58,430 |
| Sports Turf Manager | $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
Lists Sports Turf Manager appears on
Questions
Sports Turf Manager: frequently asked questions
How much do First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers. It counts them within first-line supervisor of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers, whose median pay is $58,430 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $47,390 and $72,590, and the top 10% earn $85,650 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Sports Turf Manager?
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 Sports Turf Manager 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 Sports Turf Manager do?
Sports turf managers are responsible for the fields where games are played. A typical task: plan and carry out mowing, irrigation, fertility, and aeration programs. 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 Sports Turf Manager?
O*NET scores First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers highest on the Enterprising, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. 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.