What Does a Landscaping Supervisor Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a landscaping supervisor do?

First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service and groundskeeping workers plan work, lead crews, manage equipment and materials, and keep clients satisfied. The median pay is $58,430 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Under 5 years of experience, and employment is projected to grow +4.0% from 2025–35.

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

Median pay
$58,430
$28.09/hour · May 2025
Job growth
+4.0%
2025–35, about as fast as average
Openings per year
23,900
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
BLS classification
Time to train
Under 5 years of experience
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
243,300
Employment, 2025

What landscaping supervisors do

Landscaping supervisors turn plans into finished work. They schedule crews, assign tasks, train workers, order materials, inspect quality, manage equipment, estimate jobs, solve client issues and keep crews safe. Many still work alongside their crews.

Most supervisors start as landscapers and move up with experience. A high school diploma plus a few years in the field is typical, and certifications in horticulture, irrigation or pesticides help.

Typical duties

Schedule and assign crew work
Train and supervise workers
Inspect work quality
Order materials and plants
Maintain equipment and vehicles
Communicate with clients
Enforce safety rules

Work environment and schedule

Supervisors work outdoors at job sites and in trucks, with some office time for scheduling and estimates.

Schedule: Hours are long during the growing season, with early starts; winter may include snow operations.

A day in the life

6:00 AMHold a tailgate safety talk with crews.
6:30 AMAssign routes and jobs.
8:00 AMCheck a crew’s work at a commercial site.
10:00 AMMeet a client about a drainage problem.

See a full day in the life of a landscaping supervisor →

Landscaping Supervisor salary

Half of landscaping supervisors earned more than $58,430 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $40,560 for the lowest 10% to $85,650 for the top 10%.

$40,56010th$58,430Median$85,65090th

Full landscaping supervisor pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a landscaping supervisor

Work on a crew
Become a crew leader
Learn estimating and plants
Earn certifications
Advance

A high school diploma and a few years of landscaping experience are typical. Horticulture courses help.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a landscaping supervisor →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Crew scheduling
Horticulture knowledge
Estimating
Equipment management
Irrigation

People skills

Leadership
Communication
Problem solving
Bilingual skills (often helpful)

All landscaping supervisor skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Leadership role
Outdoors with variety
Clear path from crew to supervisor
Path to business ownership

Cons

Long seasonal hours
Labor shortages
Weather delays
Client pressure

Certifications and licenses

NALP Landscape Industry Certified Manager: Management credential.
Pesticide applicator license: Often required.
Irrigation Association certification: Irrigation skills.
OSHA 10: Safety training.

Career path

Landscaper: Learn the work.
Crew Leader: Lead crews.
Landscaping Supervisor: Manage multiple crews.
Branch or Operations Manager: Run a branch.

Learn the job before day one

Our Landscaping Supervisor training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as run a tailgate safety talk and estimate a mulch job, safety and how to land your first job.

View Landscaping Supervisor training Is this career right for me?

Landscaper

Plant, mow, trim and care for lawns, gardens and outdoor spaces.

$39,150
1–4 weeks

Arborist

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

$50,960
1–3 months to start

Landscape Architect

Design parks, campuses and outdoor spaces that work for people and nature.

$79,870
4–5 years + experience

Pesticide Applicator

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

$46,340
1–3 months + license exam

Compare: Landscaping Supervisor vs. Landscaper · Landscaping Supervisor vs. Arborist · Landscaping Supervisor vs. Landscape Architect · Landscaping Supervisor vs. Pesticide Applicator

Landscaping Supervisor FAQ

How do landscapers become supervisors?

Through experience and leadership on crews.

Do supervisors need a degree?

No, experience is the main path.

Is the work seasonal?

Busiest in spring through fall.

How much does a landscaping supervisor make?

The median annual wage for landscaping supervisors was $58,430 ($28.09 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $40,560 and the highest 10% earned more than $85,650.

How long does it take to become a landscaping supervisor?

Most people need about Under 5 years of experience of training. A high school diploma and a few years of landscaping experience are typical. Horticulture courses help.

Do you need a degree to be a landscaping supervisor?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education.

More landscaping supervisor questions →

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 37-1012 (First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, 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.

Landscaping Supervisor