If you ever mowed lawns as a kid, you probably knew the “standard” wage for a job well done: $10 for the front, $10 for the back. Each time you pushed your rickety mower, you knew what you were going to make.
However, when it comes to professional landscapers, salaries and hourly wages can vary greatly.
This is why it’s important to know exactly how a landscaper’s salary breaks down. If you’re thinking about creating a landscaping business, you have come to the right place.
Knowing how a landscaper's salary breaks down will not only benefit the landscaper, but will also benefit the client. The client will have the satisfaction of knowing they paid the right price for their green space, while the experienced landscaper will be satisfied knowing they have the right amount of green in their wallet.
Factors that influence a landscaper’s salary
Before you rev up your weed wacker or sharpen your edger, it’s important to know the factors that influence a landscaper’s salary.
We’ve broken down these factors below, starting with the most important: job type.
Job type
While it’s easy to assume that all landscapers provide the same services, this isn’t the case. From tree trimmers to landscape architects, the jobs landscapers do are as varied as the flowers in a well-manicured garden. In general, a landscaper’s salary fluctuates depending on the landscaper’s specialty.
General lawn care laborer
The heart and soul of many landscaping companies, general lawn care laborers provide many services including:
- Mowing
- Raking
- Edging
- Leaf blowing
- Trimming
- Pruning
- Stonework
Considered an entry-level position in the landscaping industry, general lawn care laborers are usually paid hourly, though the hourly wage varies based on location.
For example, while the national average hourly pay for general lawn care laborers is $11.25/hour, Arden, North Carolina’s Snow Creek Landscaping LLC offers $15/hour.
Some landscaping companies, like Grassperson Lawncare & Landscape, even offer overtime and extra benefits.
According to Grassperson Lawncare & Landscape CEO Jack Moore, “Another really big incentive is that we offer overtime. While you might be making $14 an hour, you have the opportunity to earn $21 an hour with overtime. Now you’re talking about a more substantial yearly salary.”
Greenhouse and nursery laborer
If general lawn care laborers are skilled at maintaining lawns and providing general services, greenhouse and nursery laborers have serious talents when it comes to caring for plants, shrubs, and trees.
As their name implies, greenhouse and nursery laborers usually work in greenhouses, though their work may take them outside to tree farms.
Greenhouse and nursery laborers typically provide the following services:
- Maintain plants, shrubs, and trees
- Plant seeds and fertilize
- Provide customers with growing information
- Protect flora from pests
Usually more specialized than general lawn care laborers when it comes to growing and caring for garden plants, greenhouse and nursery laborers make, on average, $14.37/hour.
Interior landscaper
Landscapers also work inside and outside, beautifying an area through plant maintenance.
Merging lawn care and aesthetics, interior landscapers seek to transform inside spaces by growing and maintaining indoor vegetation. Though some homes use their services, the work of interior landscapers is usually found in malls, airports, and other public spaces in which green space is present. Not only does their work help beautify an area, but their work can also help calm passersby by presenting a serene green space.
Although their annual salaries can vary greatly based on the type and size of the interior landscaping job, interior landscapers make, on average, $37,087/year.
Arborist
Arborists are skilled technicians when it comes to maintaining trees. In addition to pruning leaves, removing dead branches, and providing for the general care of pines, firs, oaks, and other types of trees, arborists help beautify spaces by planting trees. In some cases, they may even aid in electrical restoration by trimming branches from power lines.
Deep knowledge of trees is usually required to become an arborist. To this extent, arborists typically must know the following:
- Tree types and lifespans
- Caring for different types of trees
- How to maintain trees without damaging them
- How to safely apply pesticides
Arborists must also have a deep concern for safety, as working high up in trees often places them in dangerous situations. They must know how to operate truck-mounted lifts and what to do in case of an emergency.
Because of the added knowledge and safety requirements, arborists can generally expect to make more than general lawn care laborers. The average arborist hourly pay is $27/hour, which translates to $55,808/year.
Irrigation technician
Given both the financial and environmental costs of water use, skilled irrigation technicians are almost always in demand. Put simply, an irrigation technician is an experienced landscaper specializing in water system installation and maintenance. Their primary focus is ensuring that water is adequately distributed to the landscapes that need it most.
In addition, irrigation technicians perform the following services:
- Testing soil and vegetation for irrigation needs
- Installing water pipes, sprinklers, and electrical timers
- Determining the best ways to maximize water use given a landscape’s topography
Like arborists, irrigation technicians may have to attain special certifications, especially when it comes to installing complex water systems. Though these certifications can be pricey, the payoff tends to be worth it. The national average salary for irrigation technicians is $42,346/year.
That said, an irrigation technician’s salary may be much higher in areas where water is scarce. Based in dry Phoenix, AZ, ABCScapes is a hyperlocal business that knows the difference a good irrigation technician can make to a landscape. In addition to installing water systems, their technicians provide an “analysis of sun vs. shade” and an “evaluation of water waste.” All of these skills can increase a technician’s overall pay.
Landscape architect
Masters of designing aesthetically pleasing and functional greenspaces, landscape architects are the true artists of the landscape world. Not only do they design both commercial and residential green spaces, but they also oversee projects from conception to the last strategically placed shrub.
According to landscape architect David Chewey, the ability to coordinate landscapers of all different types is a required skill of successful landscaper architects:
“As Landscape Architects we are capable of managing all of the nuts and bolts of a complex landscape project. We need to coordinate with environmental specialists, architects, engineers throughout the design process.”
Due to their education and skill requirements, landscape architects tend to make the most out of all landscape professionals. The national average salary for landscape architects is $57,480/year.
Location
When it comes to professional landscaper salaries, where a landscaper lives is just as important as their specialty. The variation in professional landscaper salaries by region is mainly a product of the cost-of-living, though other factors may come into play as well. For instance, in areas that heavily regulate fertilizers, a landscaper’s salary may be higher due to the increased cost of higher-quality fertilizers.
In general, however, landscapers living in the Northeast and West tend to have higher salaries than landscapers living in the South and Midwest.
Below, we take a more in-depth look at landscaper salaries by region.
- South – Although the South is known for its green pastures, pristine golf courses, and immaculate lawns, it’s not known for its especially high landscaper salaries. In fact, many landscapers in the South make less than the national average. In Kentucky, the southern state with the lowest average salary, the salary is $21,727/year, while in Mississippi, the southern state with the highest average salary, the pay is $32,033/year.
- Midwest – To be a landscaper in the Midwest is to brave scorching heat in the summer and frigid chill in the winter. It’s also to live in a region notable for its vast expanse of beautiful greenspace. In Oklahoma, the midwestern state with the lowest annual salary, landscapers can expect to make $20,405/year, while in Minnesota, the midwestern state with the highest salary, landscapers can expect to net $34,511/year.
- West – Landscapers in the West have to be exceptionally skilled to work in the region. Not only do they have to deal with record-breaking temperatures, but they also must maintain landscapes in areas that receive very little annual rainfall. In New Mexico, the western state with the lowest annual salary, landscapers can expect to make $25,796/year, while in Wyoming, landscapers net $31,699/year on average.
- Northeast – If you’ve ever been to New England, you know the scent of clam chowder wafting over a bucolic village lawn. Even better is the landscaper salary: above the national average. In Massachusetts, the northeastern state with the highest annual salary, landscapers can expect to make $37,407/year, while in New Hampshire, landscapers make $30,928 on average.
Trim shrubs, not your salary with Nextdoor
If you’ve ever worked a landscaping job, you know the time and energy that goes into turning a landscape green. From trimming shrubs to installing irrigation systems, landscapers must work with precision, passion, and poise.
But what you don’t want to work with is the thought that you’re not being paid adequately for your work—especially when you’re sitting atop a 14-horsepower mower with a 42-inch cutting deck.
To get the most up-to-date information when it comes to salary by region, join Nextdoor. A hyperlocal community hub, Nextdoor enables landscapers to connect with neighbors who are looking for their services. Get started by creating a Business Page. Then, update your page with your business information, as well as your mission statement and services. Let your community engagement on Nextdoor help you earn the salary you deserve.
Whether you’re a landscaper or client, know how a landscaper’s salary breaks down by following the above information. With this knowledge in tow, that yard of verdant Kentucky bluegrass won’t be the only green you’ll save.
Sources:
ABCScapes INC. Homepage. https://www.abcscapes.com/irrigation-management/
Custom Gardens. Ask the Landscape Architect. https://customgardens.com/blog/landscape_architect
Grassperson Lawncare & Landscape. Career Tips: How Much Do Lawn Care & Landscaping Workers Make at Grassperson? https://www.grassperson.com/culture-blog/how-much-do-lawn-care-landscaping-workers-make-grassperson
Indeed. 15 Lawn Care Job Titles (With Duties and Salaries). https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/lawn-care-job-titles
Indeed. Snow Creek Landscaping, LLC. https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Snow-Creek-Landscaping,-LLC-1?from=SERP&fromjk=99a63c768418045f&jcid=8bb3c0cb412ae53e&attributionid=serp-linkcompanyname
Payscale. Average Greenhouse Grower Hourly Pay. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Greenhouse_Grower/Hourly_Rate
Payscale. Average Lawn Care Worker Hourly Pay. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Lawn_Care_Worker/Hourly_Rate
Zippia. Average Landscaper Salary. https://www.zippia.com/landscaper-jobs/salary/
ZipRecruiter. Climbing Arborist Salary. Climbing Arborist Annual Salary ($55,808 Avg | Jul 2021) - ZipRecruiter
