How much does a landscaper make?
a year · about $19 an hour
A typical landscaper in the United States makes $39,150 a year, about $19 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A landscaper may mow and edge lawns, trim shrubs, plant and water greenery, then rake leaves or spread mulch. They use mowers and hand tools, clear debris, and clean equipment before finishing the job.
Did you know? Some groundskeepers paint a team logo or name right onto a sports field’s grass before an event.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $31,150 and $56,730How do you become one?
In the U.S., many entry-level landscaper jobs need no diploma or prior related experience; workers learn planting and mower use on the job. Studying horticulture or landscape design can help, and states may require a license to apply pesticides or fertilizers.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, useful skills, or a license for pesticide work, and with the employer and location. Seasonal busy periods can change hours, too; jobs with more specialized tasks may pay differently.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in District of Columbia ($48,790), lowest in Mississippi ($31,630).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $31,150 | $39,150 | $56,730 | about 953,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $48,790 | about 800 |
| Massachusetts | $48,670 | about 23,000 |
| Alaska | $47,690 | about 1,000 |
| Washington | $46,950 | about 23,000 |
| Minnesota | $46,610 | about 18,000 |
Official definition: 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. Excludes “Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse” (45-2092).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/building-and-grounds-cleaning/grounds-maintenance-workers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/37-3011.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- seasonaljobs.dol.gov/jobs/H-400-24002-609220
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY