Landscaper salary
Typical pay is $18.58/hr. Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for U.S..
What the range looks like
- 10th percentile Entry level / starting out
- $13.83/hr
- 25th percentile Below typical
- $16.36/hr
- Median Half earn more, half earn less
- $18.58/hr
- 75th percentile Above typical
- $22.00/hr
- 90th percentile Experienced / specialised
- $26.36/hr
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025) — U.S..
See what's hiring now
3 open landscapers on LocalWork right now.
What a landscaper does
Landscapers maintain and construct outdoor spaces — mowing, planting, hardscaping and seasonal work for homes, businesses and municipalities.
Day-to-day duties
- Mow, trim and maintain grounds
- Plant and care for trees and beds
- Install hardscaping such as paths and walls
- Operate mowers and power equipment
- Apply treatments where licensed
Skills employers look for
- Equipment operation and maintenance
- Plant and seasonal knowledge
- Physical stamina outdoors
- Eye for finished appearance
Requirements Entry level
- No formal education required
- Pesticide applicator licence for chemical work
- Driver's licence often needed
- Work in all weather
How to get started
- 1 Start as a crew member
- 2 Learn equipment and plant care
- 3 Add a pesticide applicator licence
- 4 Progress to crew lead, or start your own operation
Job outlook: Strongly seasonal in colder regions and closer to year-round in warm climates. Commercial contracts provide the steadiest work.
Common questions about landscapers
How much does a landscaper make?
The median pay for a landscaper nationally is $18.58 an hour — about $38,650 a year full time. That figure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for U.S. (2025). Half of the roles pay more than this and half pay less, so treat it as the middle of the market rather than a target.
What is the pay range for landscapers?
Most landscapers nationally earn between $13.83 an hour and $26.36 an hour — that is the 10th to the 90th percentile. The spread usually reflects experience, shift, certifications and employer size more than anything else.
How much do entry-level landscapers make?
Pay at the bottom of the range — roughly what someone starting out can expect — is around $13.83 an hour. A quarter of landscapers earn below $16.36 an hour, so the first year or two typically sits in that band. This is a role employers routinely fill with people who have no prior experience.
What do the highest-paid landscapers earn?
The top 10% of landscapers nationally earn about $26.36 an hour or more, roughly 1.4× the median. Getting there usually means experience plus something specific — certifications, supervisory duties, specialised skills or premium shifts.
What does a landscaper do?
Landscapers maintain and construct outdoor spaces — mowing, planting, hardscaping and seasonal work for homes, businesses and municipalities. Day to day, that means mow, trim and maintain grounds, plant and care for trees and beds, install hardscaping such as paths and walls and operate mowers and power equipment.
How do you become a landscaper?
The usual route is: (1) start as a crew member, (2) learn equipment and plant care, (3) add a pesticide applicator licence, (4) progress to crew lead, or start your own operation. Employers typically look for no formal education required, pesticide applicator licence for chemical work and driver's licence often needed.
Do you need a certification to work as a landscaper?
Usually not. Most employers hire landscapers without a specific licence, though pesticide applicator licence for chemical work will widen your options and often your pay.
Are landscapers in demand?
There are currently 3 open landscapers listed on LocalWork. Strongly seasonal in colder regions and closer to year-round in warm climates. Commercial contracts provide the steadiest work.
Where are landscapers most in demand?
See the metro and rural areas with the highest concentration of this work, ranked from Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
Similar roles
Pay figures are estimates for guidance only, not an offer or guarantee. Advertised ranges come from job postings on LocalWork; government figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual pay depends on experience, certifications, shift and employer.