What Does a Landscaper Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a landscaper do?

Landscaping and groundskeeping workers maintain and install lawns, gardens, trees and outdoor spaces at homes, businesses, parks, campuses and golf courses. The median pay is $39,150 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 1–4 weeks, and employment is projected to grow +4.7% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$39,150
$18.82/hour · May 2025
Job growth
+4.7%
2025–35, about as fast as average
Openings per year
149,500
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
BLS classification
Time to train
1–4 weeks
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
1,188,600
Employment, 2025

What landscapers do

Landscapers make outdoor spaces look great. They mow, edge and fertilize lawns, plant trees, shrubs and flowers, spread mulch, install sod and irrigation, build walkways and walls, remove snow and keep parks, campuses and golf courses in shape.

No formal education is needed, and training happens on the job. Landscaping is one of the largest outdoor occupations, with steady demand and a clear path to crew leader, irrigation tech or business owner.

Typical duties

Mow, edge and trim lawns
Plant trees, shrubs and flowers
Spread mulch and install sod
Prune shrubs and small trees
Install and repair irrigation
Build hardscapes like walls and paths
Remove leaves and snow

Work environment and schedule

Landscapers work outdoors in heat, cold and rain, using power equipment and lifting heavy materials.

Schedule: Work is busiest from spring through fall; many crews do snow removal in winter.

A day in the life

6:30 AMLoad mowers and trimmers onto the trailer.
7:30 AMMow and edge a commercial property.
9:30 AMPrune shrubs along the entrance.
11:00 AMSpread mulch in planting beds.

See a full day in the life of a landscaper →

Landscaper salary

Half of landscapers earned more than $39,150 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $31,150 for the lowest 10% to $56,730 for the top 10%.

$31,15010th$39,150Median$56,73090th

Full landscaper pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a landscaper

Get hired on a crew
Learn equipment and safety
Build plant knowledge
Earn certifications
Advance

No formal education is required. Landscapers learn on the job.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a landscaper →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Mowing and trimming
Planting
Pruning
Irrigation basics
Hardscape installation

People skills

Stamina
Reliability
Teamwork
Attention to detail

All landscaper skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Work outdoors
No experience needed
Huge, steady field
Path to owning a business

Cons

Heat, cold and weather
Physically demanding
Seasonal slowdowns
Noise and equipment hazards

Certifications and licenses

NALP Landscape Industry Certified Technician: National landscape credential.
Pesticide applicator license: Needed to apply pesticides for hire.
Irrigation Association certification: Irrigation credentials.
CDL: For larger trucks.

Career path

Landscape Laborer: Learn the work.
Landscaper: Handle installs and maintenance.
Crew Leader: Lead crews.
Landscaping Supervisor or Owner: Run operations.

Learn the job before day one

Our Landscaper training (6 hours, $59.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as plant a shrub and mow a lawn professionally, safety and how to land your first job.

View Landscaper training Is this career right for me?

Landscaping Supervisor

Lead landscaping and grounds crews to deliver great outdoor spaces.

$58,430
Under 5 years of experience

Arborist

Climb, prune and care for trees to keep them healthy and safe.

$50,960
1–3 months to start

Pesticide Applicator

Apply fertilizers and pesticides safely to lawns, crops and rights-of-way.

$46,340
1–3 months + license exam

Farmworker

Plant, tend and harvest crops in fields, orchards, nurseries and greenhouses.

$35,660
Days to weeks

Compare: Landscaper vs. Landscaping Supervisor · Landscaper vs. Arborist · Landscaper vs. Pesticide Applicator · Landscaper vs. Farmworker

Landscaper FAQ

Do landscapers need experience?

No; most learn on the job.

Is landscaping seasonal?

It slows in winter in cold areas, but many crews do snow removal.

Can landscapers start businesses?

Yes, many do.

How much does a landscaper make?

The median annual wage for landscapers was $39,150 ($18.82 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $31,150 and the highest 10% earned more than $56,730.

How long does it take to become a landscaper?

Most people need about 1–4 weeks of training. No formal education is required. Landscapers learn on the job.

Do you need a degree to be a landscaper?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “no formal educational credential” as the typical entry-level education, plus short-term on-the-job training.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 37-3011 (Landscaping and groundskeeping workers).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Landscaper