Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
Less than 5 years
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers oversee teams that maintain outdoor spaces and deliver services to clients. Nationally, this role employs about 225,000 people, indicating a sizable field with many working supervisors. The typical education is a high school diploma or equivalent, making it accessible to those who build their expertise through experience and skill development rather than extended formal schooling. The national median annual salary of $56,170 reflects the added responsibility that comes with supervising crews, coordinating work, and interacting with customers. Projected employment growth of 2.3% and 23,000 annual openings suggest an ongoing need for new supervisors, whether from career advancement within landscaping crews or from other fields. Strong skills in leadership, project management, customer service, and problem solving are central to success in this role, supported by physical strength and stamina, mechanical abilities, and an aptitude for science, mathematics, and creativity.
First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers earn a national median annual salary of $56,170. Earnings vary across states and metro areas. Among top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $60,840 in Colorado to $71,930 in Washington. New York and Massachusetts also show relatively high state-level median pay, at $70,760 and $63,750 respectively, while California offers $63,270. Metro areas can offer even higher median pay: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA shows $76,990, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ offers $74,610, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports $69,590. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV has a median salary of $60,460, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH stands at $68,100. These figures indicate that location plays a major role in earning potential, and that certain metro areas within high-scoring states may provide higher median wages than the national level for this occupation.
This occupation has national employment of about 225,000 first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers. Projected employment growth is 2.3%, indicating that the total number of jobs is expected to increase over time. In addition, there are an estimated 23,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect a combination of new positions from growth and openings from people changing roles or leaving the workforce. The consistent 2.3% growth rate reported across top states and metro areas suggests a broadly similar outlook in many regions, rather than growth being concentrated in one specific area. For individuals already working in landscaping or groundskeeping roles, this employment picture points to opportunities to move into supervisory positions. For career changers, the presence of annual openings and projected growth may provide multiple entry points into supervisory work in this field over the coming years.
Geography significantly shapes opportunity for first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers. Among states, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington all rank highly on the CareerGPS opportunity score, combining salary, employment, and growth data. New York and Washington stand out for higher median salaries at $70,760 and $71,930, while California offers the largest employment count at 14,850 supervisors. Colorado and Massachusetts provide median salaries of $60,840 and $63,750, with solid employment bases and the same 2.3% growth rate seen nationally. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ post the highest opportunity scores, at 77.42 and 77.27, with median salaries of $69,590 and $74,610. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA shows the highest listed metro median pay at $76,990. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also combine notable employment levels with opportunity scores above 60, offering additional strong regional options.
The typical education for first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers is a high school diploma or equivalent. This creates a pathway into supervisory work that does not depend on a college degree, but instead on developing key abilities over time. Leadership and project management are central, since supervisors coordinate crews and oversee work from start to finish. Customer service and problem solving and decision making are also important, reflecting the need to handle client needs and address issues on site. Technical and physical capabilities support this role as well. Skills in science, mechanical knowledge, and mathematics can help supervisors understand the work they oversee and plan it effectively. Physical strength and stamina, along with fine motor skills, are relevant in a hands-on outdoor environment. Creativity and innovation further round out the profile, supporting new ideas in how work is organized or projects are approached within landscaping and groundskeeping operations.
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