🏞️
Parks, Resorts & Attractions
Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, Six Flags
Grounds Maintenance Workers, All Other
Grounds maintenance workers keep outdoor spaces usable and presentable by mowing, trimming, clearing debris, watering plants, and handling seasonal cleanup. The work is hands-on and very visible: when it is done well, most people barely notice it, but bad weather, heavy use, and constant wear mean the job never stays finished for long.
Also known as GroundskeeperGrounds Maintenance TechnicianLandscape Maintenance WorkerGrounds LaborerLandscape Laborer
Median Salary
$43,410
Mean $47,180
U.S. Workforce
~14K
1.9K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.4%
14.1K to 14.5K
Entry Education
No formal educational credential
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Grounds Maintenance Workers, All Other sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~14K workers, with a median annual pay of $43,410 and roughly 1.9K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 14.1 K in 2024 to 14.5K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with No formal educational credential, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Grounds Crew Helper and can progress toward Grounds Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Mowers, String Trimmers & Edgers, Irrigation Systems & Sprinkler Controls, and Turf, Shrub & Seasonal Plant Care, paired with soft skills such as Reliability, Attention to Detail, and Physical Stamina.
Core Responsibilities
- Mow lawns, trim edges, and cut back overgrown grass and weeds around buildings, walkways, and parking areas.
- Pick up litter, branches, and other debris so the property stays clean and safe.
- Water plants and check sprinkler heads, timers, and hoses to make sure irrigation is working correctly.
- Plant flowers, shrubs, and ground cover, then add mulch and pull weeds from beds and borders.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Mow lawns, trim edges, and cut back overgrown grass and weeds around buildings, walkways, and parking areas.
02 Pick up litter, branches, and other debris so the property stays clean and safe.
03 Water plants and check sprinkler heads, timers, and hoses to make sure irrigation is working correctly.
04 Plant flowers, shrubs, and ground cover, then add mulch and pull weeds from beds and borders.
05 Clean, fuel, and do basic upkeep on mowers, trimmers, blowers, and other yard equipment.
06 Look for problems like broken sprinklers, damaged turf, drainage issues, or unsafe walkways and report them before they get worse.
Industries That Hire
🎓
Higher Education Campuses
Harvard University, University of Michigan, Arizona State University
🏥
Healthcare Facilities
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Permanente
🏛️
Municipal & State Government
City of Chicago, City of Phoenix, National Park Service
🏢
Corporate Campuses & Office Parks
Amazon, Google, Microsoft
Pros and Cons
Advantages
+
You can get started without a degree: BLS lists no formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training for this role.
+
There are still real openings: employment is projected to rise from about 13.58K workers now to 14.5K by 2034, with 1.9K annual openings.
+
The work is concrete and visible, so you can see the result of a job well done every day.
+
It is a good fit if you prefer active work outdoors instead of sitting at a desk all day.
+
Pay is modest but not trivial for an entry-friendly job, with a mean wage of $47,180 and a median of $43,410.
Challenges
-
The pay ceiling is limited for how physical the work is, and the median wage of $43,410 is not high for a full-time career.
-
Growth is slow at just 2.4% over 10 years, so the job market is not expanding quickly.
-
Work depends on weather, property budgets, and seasonal demand, which can mean unstable hours or slower periods.
-
The job is hard on the body: repeated bending, lifting, pushing equipment, and standing outdoors can wear people down over time.
-
Long-term advancement often means moving into supervision or a specialized niche, so there is a fairly clear career ceiling if you stay in hands-on grounds work.
Career Progression
Grounds Crew Helper
0-1 years
$31K-$36K
Learns the basics by helping with mowing, cleanup, tool care, and simple planting tasks under close supervision.
Grounds Maintenance Worker
1-4 years
$39K-$49K
Handles routine outdoor upkeep independently, including mowing, trimming, watering, and seasonal cleanup.
Lead Grounds Maintenance Worker THIS ROLE
4-7 years
$49K-$60K
Takes on the harder jobs, helps train newer workers, and keeps daily work moving on larger properties.
Grounds Supervisor
7+ years
$60K-$75K
Schedules crews, checks quality, manages supplies and equipment, and makes sure the property meets standards.
Education Paths
No formal educational credential
This is the standard entry point for the role and the BLS-listed typical way to start.
High school diploma or GED
Not required for the job, but it can help with employer screening and advancement into lead roles.
Short-term on-the-job training
New workers usually learn the routines, tools, and safety rules on the job rather than through school.
Landscape maintenance or horticulture certificate
A certificate can help if you want to move into more specialized work such as irrigation, turf care, or plant maintenance.
Key Skills
Technical
Mowers, String Trimmers & Edgers 88%
Irrigation Systems & Sprinkler Controls 82%
Turf, Shrub & Seasonal Plant Care 76%
Leaf Blowers, Hand Tools & Landscape Equipment 74%
Small Engine Maintenance & Basic Repairs 70%
Fertilizer, Mulch & Pest-Control Basics 64%
Soft Skills
ReliabilityAttention to DetailPhysical StaminaTeamworkTime ManagementSafety Awareness Job Outlook and Trends
+2.4%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.9K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 14.1K to 14.5 K over the next decade, representing 2.4% growth. Around 1.9 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.