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Job title · SOC 37-3011

Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker

Also known as: parks maintenance worker, groundskeeper

01

Overview

Sourced

Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units.

O*NET definition of Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (SOC 37-3011) · Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed.

115,390
in government (SOC 37-3011)
12%
of this occupation works for government
$40,080
median pay in government
Local
levels of government

Titles employers use

GreenskeeperGroundskeeperGroundsmanLandscaperAthletic FieldskeeperGrounds Maintenance WorkerGrounds SpecialistLandscape SpecialistLandscape Technician (Landscape Tech)Outside Maintenance Worker
How people usually get in Editorial
application. Requirements vary by employer; each employer page will list its exact rules.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.

02

Requirements

Sourced
Typical entry requirements (BLS, SOC 37-3011)
Education needed to enter
No formal educational credential
Related work experience
None
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training

Education workers say the job requires

Post-Secondary Certificate
5%
Some College Courses
1%
Bachelor's Degree
0%

Share of surveyed workers in Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (SOC 37-3011) naming each level as required to be hired, 23 respondents, O*NET survey August 2026. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

03

How to get hired

Sourced

Grounds maintenance workers typically do not need a formal educational credential and are trained on the job. States may require licensing for workers who apply pesticides and fertilizers.

From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Grounds Maintenance Workers”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.

04

Academy and training

Sourced
Training to become competent (BLS)
SOC 37-3011
Short-term on-the-job training
Preparation level (O*NET)
Job zone
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.

06

Promotion ladder

Editorial

Civil-service class series: civil-service class series I → II → III → senior → supervisor → manager, each with a salary range. Typical structure for a civil-service class series; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.

  1. Trainee / Assistant
  2. Level I
  3. Level II (journey)
  4. Level III / Senior
  5. Lead / Principal
  6. Supervisor
  7. Manager
  8. Director / Division Chief

Source: GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial).

07

Pay

Sourced
Federal
$62,800
State
$39,300
Local
$40,190
All government
$40,080
Private sector
$39,030

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Employer typeWorkers10th pct.25thMedian75th90th
Federal460$51,250$56,700$62,800$69,600$77,580
State14,630$30,050$34,720$39,300$47,740$56,560
Local100,310$29,900$35,040$40,190$50,440$62,840
All government115,390$29,920$35,030$40,080$50,350$62,400
Private sector837,250$31,200$36,280$39,030$46,610$55,560

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

08

Schedule

Sourced
Work schedule
Regular
71%
Irregular
3%
Seasonal
26%
Typical work week
Less than 40 hours
2%
40 hours
38%
More than 40 hours
61%

Share of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2026). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

12

Day-to-day work

Sourced
  1. Mow or edge lawns, using power mowers or edgers.4.6
  2. Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chainsaws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.4.5
  3. Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush trimmers, or axes.4.4
  4. Prune or trim trees, shrubs, or hedges, using shears, pruners, or chain saws.4.3
  5. Gather and remove litter.4.3
  6. Trim or pick flowers and clean flower beds.4.2

The 6 most important of 6 core tasks for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2026.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

13Derived
Custodian (schools & public buildings)
Same job family
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)
Same job family
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)
Same job family
Lineworker (public power utility)
Same job family
Public Works / Street Maintenance Worker
Same job family
Sanitation Worker / Refuse Collector
Same job family
Sewer / Collection System Worker
Same job family
Stationary Engineer (public facilities)
Same job family
16

By state

Sourced

Median annual wage for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (SOC 37-3011) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.

StateWorkers10th pct.Median90th pct.
District of Columbia800$38,980$48,790$66,500
Massachusetts22,880$37,800$48,670$62,170
Alaska1,080$33,550$47,690$62,800
Washington22,550$37,510$46,950$61,030
Minnesota17,610$30,510$46,610$61,290
Vermont2,700$36,590$46,230$61,950
Maine6,410$34,800$45,970$57,620
Hawaii7,040$34,220$45,920$56,190
Colorado21,990$36,280$45,760$60,200
Connecticut13,490$35,850$45,740$58,660
California106,180$36,780$45,560$61,200
Montana4,270$32,170$45,350$59,340
Oregon11,870$35,870$45,040$58,940
New Hampshire6,050$34,540$44,890$59,400
New York47,600$34,950$44,840$59,920
Rhode Island4,040$36,600$44,730$57,880
Illinois34,780$32,010$43,790$61,190
Idaho7,980$30,960$41,600$58,100
New Jersey30,470$35,450$41,360$55,050
Wisconsin18,970$29,820$41,230$58,350
North Dakota2,100$31,480$40,790$57,600
Utah12,850$32,140$40,740$57,180
Pennsylvania34,850$29,780$39,500$53,320
Maryland17,440$35,990$39,380$55,490
Kansas9,480$29,680$39,330$49,300
Nebraska7,280$29,670$39,140$57,960
Iowa8,800$28,480$38,920$58,420
Arizona22,450$35,520$38,910$48,500
Nevada9,980$31,800$38,820$60,290
Missouri18,310$30,610$38,520$50,430
Virginia25,180$31,200$38,410$49,980
Wyoming1,790$29,760$38,310$47,270
Ohio34,420$28,670$38,220$49,070
Michigan32,330$29,970$38,120$49,670
Indiana19,260$28,870$38,070$49,820
Georgia25,510$28,710$37,970$47,610
North Carolina32,730$30,580$37,910$47,490
New Mexico5,030$29,860$37,560$48,860
Delaware4,130$32,910$37,350$46,620
Florida86,040$30,660$37,100$47,390
Tennessee18,250$29,480$37,020$47,650
Texas63,430$28,810$36,740$47,910
South Carolina15,600$28,590$36,710$47,010
Kentucky8,920$27,930$36,670$49,250
Arkansas6,610$26,710$35,770$45,310
Oklahoma9,280$28,040$35,770$46,740
Alabama12,020$26,370$35,630$47,270
South Dakota2,980$29,100$35,370$46,700
Louisiana8,510$24,700$34,870$42,670
West Virginia3,340$25,330$32,240$42,610
Mississippi4,940$24,380$31,630$45,390

51 states with published estimates.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Not yet collected

These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.

  • 05 Probation
    Probation length and what ends it
    Not yet collected
  • 09 Benefits and pension
    Pension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
    Not yet collected
  • 10 Union contracts
    Bargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
    Not yet collected
  • 11 Transfers and lateral entry
    Lateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves
    Not yet collected
  • 14 Exam practice
    Named exams → OpenExamPrep practice
    Not yet collected
  • 15 Employer directory
    L4 directory: every employer that hires this job, each with its own facet values
    Not yet collected