Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of landscaping and groundskeeping workers to grow 4.7% from 2025 to 2035 (about 55,600 more jobs), with about 149,500 openings a year, and the May 2025 median pay of $39,150 a year ranks 739th of 825 occupations.
- Projected change
- +4.7%
- Openings a year
- 149,500
- Median pay
- $39,150
- Pay rank
- 739th of 825
Is employment of landscaping and groundskeeping workers growing or shrinking?
Growing: BLS projects employment of landscaping and groundskeeping workers to rise 4.7% (about 55,600 more jobs) from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% projected across all occupations. That is faster than the +2.6% summed from BLS's employment levels across the 10 building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations with a projection. That change ranks 260th of 830 projected occupations.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Employment, 2025 | 1,188,600 |
| Employment, 2035 | 1,244,200 |
| Projected change | +4.7% |
| Openings a year | 149,500 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035. A projection is a BLS estimate, not a count. The 1,188,600 jobs here differ from the 952,640 on the salary page because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed and a wider set of workers, while OEWS counts wage and salary jobs in May 2025. BLS published these projections on August 27, 2026; checked November 10, 2026. Confirm any figure in the BLS Employment Projections tables.
BLS's reasons for this projection are at the Occupational Outlook Handbook. State projections are at Projections Central; projections by industry are left to BLS. Education, licensing and work context at O*NET.
How many job openings are there each year?
About 149,500 openings a year, from job growth and from workers leaving the occupation, the 22nd most of 830 occupations. About 96% of them replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force; the rest come from the 5,560 jobs added in an average year.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
How does pay for landscaping and groundskeeping workers rank?
The median of $39,150 a year ranks 739th of 825 occupations with a published median. It sits in the upper half of occupations on openings and the lower half on pay.
Source: BLS OEWS national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Ranks count only the occupations with that published figure: 830 for projected change, 830 for openings, 825 for median pay, which is why the totals differ.
What does it take to start?
- Typical entry-level education: no formal educational credential.
- Typical on-the-job training: short-term on-the-job training.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, education and training assignments.
How do related jobs compare on outlook?
| Occupation | Change | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation | +3.9% | 3,300 | $46,340 |
| Tree Trimmers and Pruners | +4.2% | 7,900 | $50,960 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | +4.0% | 23,900 | $58,430 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | +2.2% | 321,800 | $36,840 |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | -2.4% | 72,500 | $35,660 |
| Agricultural Equipment Operators | +8.6% | 10,100 | $41,730 |
| Highway Maintenance Workers | +3.4% | 11,800 | $50,260 |
| Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | +2.4% | 4,400 | $42,360 |
Related occupations from O*NET; projections from BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.