First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
Also called: Landscape Supervisors
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in landscaping or groundskeeping activities. Work may involve reviewing contracts to ascertain service, machine, and workforce requirements; answering inquiries from potential customers regarding methods, material, and price ranges; and preparing estimates according to labor, material, and machine costs.
Also called: Arborist Crew Leader, Buildings and Grounds Supervisor, Cemetery Workers Supervisor, Enhancement Manager, Field Manager, Gardening Manager
Median pay
$58,430
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$40,560 – $85,650
People employed
130,760
Holland code
ECR
Enterprising · Conventional · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 2.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 3.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 4.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 5.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 6.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 7.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Tight deadlines are common
- Long hours on your feet
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers pay by state
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers do
- 01Establish and enforce operating procedures and work standards that will ensure adequate performance and personnel safety.
- 02Schedule work for crews, depending on work priorities, crew or equipment availability, or weather conditions.
- 03Tour grounds, such as parks, botanical gardens, cemeteries, or golf courses, to inspect conditions of plants and soil.
- 04Monitor project activities to ensure that instructions are followed, deadlines are met, and schedules are maintained.
- 05Direct activities of workers who perform duties, such as landscaping, cultivating lawns, or pruning trees and shrubs.
- 06Inspect completed work to ensure conformance to specifications, standards, and contract requirements.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- Public Safety and Security
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Leadership Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers89% · +37%
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers87% · +2%
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers85% · +37%
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers81% · +27%
- Solar Energy Installation Managers79% · group pay
Change into first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers87% · $59,320
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers79% · $79,920
- Solar Energy Installation Managers75% · $79,920
- Farm Labor Contractors74% · $58,460
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors72% · $58,170
Majors that lead here
- Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General
- Ornamental Horticulture
- Greenhouse Operations and Management
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping
- Plant Nursery Operations and Management
- Turf and Turfgrass Management
- Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.