What the numbers cover
Official occupational data do not count landscapers on their own. They fall under landscaping and groundskeeping workers, a group with 1,188,600 jobs that also includes groundskeepers, greenskeepers on golf courses, athletic fieldskeepers and outside maintenance workers. Tree trimmers and pesticide applicators are counted separately. The wage and job figures on this page cover the full landscaping and groundskeeping group.
In practice, the US job market uses "landscaper" for two kinds of work. Maintenance crews mow, edge, trim, weed, mulch and water on a weekly route of homes and commercial properties. Installation crews follow a landscape plan to grade soil, lay sod, plant trees and shrubs, and build hardscapes such as walkways, patios and segmental block walls; some also install lighting or sprinkler systems. Many companies do both, and workers often move between them as the season changes.
Pay and where the jobs are
The median annual wage is $39,150, or $18.82 per hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $31,150 and the top 10% more than $56,730; the middle half earn between $36,190 and $46,830. Official wage data are not broken down by experience, and seasonal workers who are off for part of the year will earn less over twelve months than the annual figure suggests.
California has the most jobs (106,180) and one of the higher medians ($45,560). Florida follows with 86,040 jobs and a median of $37,100; its location quotient of 1.41 means landscaping jobs are more concentrated there than nationally. Texas (63,430 jobs, median $36,740), New York (47,600, median $44,840) and Pennsylvania (34,850, median $39,500) complete the top five. The District of Columbia ($48,790), Massachusetts ($48,670) and Alaska ($47,690) have the highest medians.
Seasons, hours and weather
Most workers are full time, but the rhythm of the year matters more than in most jobs. Work is busiest in spring, summer and fall, when planting, mowing and trimming peak, and some jobs are seasonal. In this job, 61% work more than 40 hours in a typical week and 65% work outdoors in all weather every day. In winter, some companies switch to snow removal, clearing walkways and parking lots, which can mean very early starts after a storm. In warm southern states, the work runs closer to year-round.
The job is physical. Expect bending, kneeling, lifting, shoveling and walking for much of the day, with 64% standing more than half the time. Safety gear is routine: 73% wear protective equipment every day, such as hearing protection and eye protection for mowers, trimmers and chain saws.
Licenses, certification and moving up
No formal education is required, and most training happens on the job in a month or less. The license that matters is for chemicals. Most states require a license to apply pesticides, and licensing for fertilizer application varies by state; the exam usually covers the proper use and disposal of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. Pesticide applicators may need training lasting up to a year. Large employers such as golf courses, university campuses and cities may add training in horticulture, arboriculture, insect and disease diagnosis, tree climbing or small-engine repair.
Voluntary certification, such as the Landscape Industry Certified Technician program from the National Association of Landscape Professionals, can show clients and employers you know the trade. With experience or formal education, workers can become crew leaders or supervisors, and some start their own business. That path is common: 20.2% of landscaping and groundskeeping workers are self-employed. For a bigger jump, landscape architects design outdoor spaces with a bachelor's degree and earn a median of $79,870.
Outlook
Employment is projected to grow 5% over the next decade, faster than average, adding 55,600 jobs and creating about 149,500 openings a year. Demand comes from homeowners, large institutions such as universities and corporate campuses, and cities investing in more urban green space. Most of the work is physical and done on site, so it is less exposed to automation than office jobs.
The honest downsides
Pay is modest, and seasonal gaps can cut annual income further. The hours run long in peak season, the weather is not optional, and the work is hard on the body. Equipment such as mowers and chain saws can be dangerous, and chemical work requires protective gear. Many small landscaping companies offer limited benefits. In return, you get outdoor work, visible results at the end of each day and one of the clearer paths from laborer to business owner without a degree.