Building & Grounds

How much does a landscaper make?

The median landscaper in the United States earns $39,150 per year, about $18.82 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all landscapers earn more, and half earn less.

Median annual salary
$39,150
Median hourly wage
$18.82 /hr
Employed in the U.S.
952,640

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 37-3011.

Landscaper salary range

Pay for landscapers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $31,150 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $56,730. The average (mean) wage of $42,290 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.

Percentile Annual Hourly
10th percentile $31,150 $14.98 Lowest paid
25th percentile $36,190 $17.40
Median (50th) $39,150 $18.82 Midpoint
75th percentile $46,830 $22.52
90th percentile $56,730 $27.28 Highest paid

Figures are national wage estimates for landscaping and groundskeeping workers (SOC 37-3011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.

Landscaper salary by state

Where you work changes the paycheck. Landscapers earn the most in District of Columbia at $48,790 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $31,630. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.

State Median annual Employed
District of Columbia $48,790 800
Massachusetts $48,670 22,880
Alaska $47,690 1,080
Washington $46,950 22,550
Minnesota $46,610 17,610
Vermont $46,230 2,700
Maine $45,970 6,410
Hawaii $45,920 7,040
Colorado $45,760 21,990
Connecticut $45,740 13,490
California $45,560 106,180
Montana $45,350 4,270
Oregon $45,040 11,870
New Hampshire $44,890 6,050
New York $44,840 47,600
Rhode Island $44,730 4,040
Illinois $43,790 34,780
Idaho $41,600 7,980
New Jersey $41,360 30,470
Wisconsin $41,230 18,970
North Dakota $40,790 2,100
Utah $40,740 12,850
Pennsylvania $39,500 34,850
Maryland $39,380 17,440
Kansas $39,330 9,480
Nebraska $39,140 7,280
Iowa $38,920 8,800
Arizona $38,910 22,450
Nevada $38,820 9,980
Missouri $38,520 18,310
Virginia $38,410 25,180
Wyoming $38,310 1,790
Ohio $38,220 34,420
Michigan $38,120 32,330
Indiana $38,070 19,260
Georgia $37,970 25,510
North Carolina $37,910 32,730
New Mexico $37,560 5,030
Delaware $37,350 4,130
Florida $37,100 86,040
Tennessee $37,020 18,250
Texas $36,740 63,430
South Carolina $36,710 15,600
Kentucky $36,670 8,920
Arkansas $35,770 6,610
Oklahoma $35,770 9,280
Alabama $35,630 12,020
South Dakota $35,370 2,980
Louisiana $34,870 8,510
West Virginia $32,240 3,340
Mississippi $31,630 4,940

State median wages for landscaping and groundskeeping workers (SOC 37-3011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.

Job outlook for landscapers

The BLS projects employment of landscapers to grow 4.7% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 1,188,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 1,244,200 by 2035.

Across the decade, the BLS expects about 149,500 openings a year for landscapers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).

How to become a landscaper

The typical entry-level education for landscapers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.

A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .

Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.

What affects how much a landscaper earns

Employer, region, shift, and whether the role is supervisory account for most of the pay spread. Government and large institutional employers often pay above small private contractors.

Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $48,790) and the lowest (Mississippi, $31,630) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.

About 952,640 people work as landscapers in the United States. At $39,150 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.

Landscaper salary FAQ

How much does a landscaper make an hour?

The median hourly wage for a landscaper is $18.82. The middle half of landscapers earn between $17.40 and $22.52 per hour.

What is the highest landscaper salary?

The highest paid 10 percent of landscapers earn more than $56,730 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.

How much does a landscaper make a year?

The median annual salary for a landscaper is $39,150. The average (mean) wage of $42,290 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.

Is being a landscaper a well paid job?

At $39,150 a year, a landscaper earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 952,640 people work as landscapers in the United States.

Which state pays landscapers the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median salary for landscapers at $48,790 a year. Massachusetts ($48,670) and Alaska ($47,690) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.

Is being a landscaper a good career?

Employment of landscapers is projected to grow 4.7% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 149,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.

Do you need a degree to become a landscaper?

No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for landscapers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.

Related salaries

See more in Building & Grounds salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.

Sources. National and state wage and employment figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 and the OEWS state files. Growth, openings, education, and training: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2025–2035). Every figure on this page is published by the BLS and is shown without adjustment. View the originals at bls.gov/oes and bls.gov/emp. Last updated 2026-05-15.