Short answer: Most landscapers start as laborers with no diploma or license required; BLS says on-the-job training usually takes a month or less. Entry pay at landscaping companies runs about $16.66 to $17.72 an hour (OEWS, May 2025). Licenses come later and only for specific work: pesticides, irrigation in some states, and contracting under your own name.
$19.49/hr median pay, landscaping workers at landscaping companies (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
$27.31/hr median for first-line supervisors at the same companies (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
162,500 grounds maintenance openings projected each year, 2025–35 (BLS OOH)
1 month or less of on-the-job training is typical for entry jobs (BLS OOH)
Landscaping is one of the few trades you can enter with no credentials at all, and BLS names crew leader, supervisor and business owner as the normal next steps. The catch is that the pay at the bottom is low and the work is seasonal and physical, so the useful question is how fast you climb. This page maps every rung from laborer to owner, attaches the federal wage data to each one, and lists the credentials that exist, who issues them and what they cost to sit.
All pay figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 release, published May 15, 2026. Where a figure says “at landscaping companies”, it is the industry-specific estimate for NAICS 561730 (Landscaping Services), which is where about 60 percent of landscaping and groundskeeping workers are employed (573,760 of 952,640; BLS OEWS, May 2025, industry-specific estimates for NAICS 561730). For the occupation-wide view and state detail, see our landscaper salary data by state and metro, and for more on working in the trade, the Careers section.
The landscaping career ladder, with real pay at each rung
BLS doesn’t publish wages by job title such as “crew leader” or “irrigation tech”. It publishes them by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. The table below maps the common job titles to the SOC code that covers them and uses the pay distribution inside landscaping companies. Where a title has no code of its own, we say which slice of the distribution we used and why (see the method note further down).
| Rung | BLS code and point in pay range | Typical credential | Hourly | Annual (x 2,080 hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laborer (new hire) | 37-3011, 10th–25th percentile | None | $16.66–$17.72 | $34,650–$36,860 |
| Crew member | 37-3011, median | None; driver’s license helps | $19.49 | $40,530 |
| Senior crew member / crew leader | 37-3011, 75th–90th percentile | NALP optional; pesticide license if spraying | $22.52–$27.06 | $46,840–$56,280 |
| Pesticide applicator | 37-3012, median | State pesticide applicator license | $22.26 | $46,290 |
| Irrigation technician | Coded within 37-3011 (no separate BLS series) | IA CIT; state license in some states (e.g. Texas) | See crew leader range | See crew leader range |
| Tree trimmer / arborist | 37-3013, median | ISA Certified Arborist (voluntary) | $24.30 | $50,530 |
| Foreman / supervisor | 37-1012, median | Experience; NALP or ISA optional | $27.31 | $56,810 |
| Top-paid supervisors | 37-1012, 90th percentile | Same | $38.65 | $80,390 |
| Operations / general manager | 11-1021, median | Experience | $43.26 | $89,990 |
| Owner | Not covered by OEWS | Business, contractor and pesticide licenses as required by state | See owner section | See owner section |
Two things stand out. First, the first large raise comes with supervision: inside landscaping companies the supervisor median ($27.31) is 40.1 percent above the worker median ($19.49; BLS OEWS, May 2025, industry-specific estimates for NAICS 561730), and across all industries the gap is 49.3 percent ($28.09 against $18.82; BLS OEWS, May 2025). Second, the specialist branches (pesticides, trees) pay more than general crew work at the median, but less than supervision. A license or certification moves you sideways into better-paid work; managing people is what moves you up.
What each rung involves and how people move up
Laborer and crew member. BLS describes the work as mowing, edging, weeding, mulching, trimming and planting, done outdoors in all weather, often seasonal, and physically demanding with frequent bending, kneeling, lifting and shoveling (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Grounds Maintenance Workers). There is no education requirement for entry-level jobs, though some employers prefer a high school diploma.
Crew leader and foreman. BLS says workers with formal education or several years of related experience “may become crew leaders or advance into other supervisory positions” (BLS OOH, How to Become One). In practice that means running a truck, reading a work order, keeping a crew on schedule and talking to clients. There were 90,190 first-line supervisors working at landscaping companies in May 2025, one for roughly every six landscaping workers (BLS OEWS, May 2025, industry-specific estimates for NAICS 561730).
Irrigation technician. BLS’s own definition of landscaping and groundskeeping workers includes sprinkler installation (BLS OEWS occupation profile 37-3011), which is why irrigation techs have no separate wage line. Irrigation is one of the branches some states license separately (Texas is the clearest example, below).
Pesticide applicator. 13,080 people worked as vegetation pesticide applicators at landscaping companies in May 2025 at a $22.26 median (BLS OEWS, May 2025, industry-specific estimates for NAICS 561730). BLS notes applicators may need additional training lasting up to a year (BLS OOH), and it says most states require a license for workers who apply pesticides.
Tree work. Tree trimmers and pruners earn a $24.50 median across all industries (BLS OEWS, May 2025). BLS also flags that they have “one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations” (BLS OOH, Work Environment). The pay premium is partly a risk premium.
Landscape architect (a separate track). This is not the top of the crew ladder. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry requirement and says all states license landscape architects, usually after an accredited degree, supervised experience and an exam (BLS OOH, Landscape Architects). Median pay is $79,870 across industries and $65,150 inside landscaping companies (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How to become a landscaper with no experience or degree
The federal data is unusually clear here: no credential is needed to start, and training happens on the job. The steps below are the ones that change how fast you get hired and how fast you get your first raise.
- Apply directly to landscaping companies in late winter or early spring. BLS notes work is concentrated in spring, summer and fall (BLS OOH), so hiring follows the season. Browse current openings on our landscaping job board.
- Keep a clean driver’s record. Crews move between sites in trucks pulling trailers, so a valid license and a clean record make you useful from the first week, and someone has to drive before anyone can lead.
- Consider a registered apprenticeship. NALP’s Landscape Management Apprenticeship Program is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor and requires 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training plus at least 144 hours of classroom or online instruction across 17 job tasks (NALP announcement, Feb. 11, 2019). Availability depends on whether a sponsoring company operates near you.
- Pick a branch by your second season. Pesticide application, irrigation and tree care each have a defined credential path (next section). Pesticide and tree work both pay more than the crew-member median (BLS OEWS, May 2025, industry-specific estimates for NAICS 561730).
- Study for a certification while you work. NALP’s technician exam is taken online and is offered in English and Spanish (NALP); ISA requires three years of full-time tree experience before you can sit for Certified Arborist (ISA Certified Arborist Program Guide, rev. August 2025).
- Learn the license rules in your state before you work on your own. Licensing attaches to activities and to whoever contracts the work; spraying, installing irrigation and contracting in your own name are the usual triggers. Our state-by-state landscaping license table lists the agency for each state.
Landscaper certifications and licenses: what exists and who issues it
There is no federal landscaper license. What exists is a mix of voluntary industry certifications and state licenses tied to specific activities. Fees below are copied from each issuer’s own page or rulebook on the date checked (October 2026); member prices require the employer or individual to be a member.
| Credential | Issuer | Status | Requirements | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape Industry Certified Technician | National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) | Voluntary | Online exam: common core plus one specialty (softscape install, hardscape install, turf, ornamentals or irrigation); 12 months from enrollment to finish | $575 member / $1,150 non-member; retakes $115 per section |
| ISA Certified Arborist | International Society of Arboriculture | Voluntary | 3 years full-time arboriculture experience, or a 2-year degree plus 2 years, or a 4-year degree plus 1 year; valid 3 years | Application $40/$50; exam $295 member / $369 non-member; retake $120 |
| Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT) | Irrigation Association | Voluntary | 6 months or 1,000 hours of irrigation field experience recommended; 3-hour, 100-question exam; 20 CE credits every 2 years | $175 member / $300 non-member; renewal $75 / $125 a year |
| CLIA, CIC, CID (auditor, contractor, designer) | Irrigation Association; labeled by EPA WaterSense | Voluntary | Higher-level irrigation credentials that meet EPA WaterSense certification criteria | See issuer |
| Pesticide applicator certification | Your state pesticide agency, under an EPA-approved plan | Required for restricted-use pesticides; many states require it for all commercial application | Federal minimum age 18; recertification at least every 5 years | Set by each state |
| Texas Landscape Irrigator / Irrigation Technician | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality | Required in Texas | Approved training course plus exam (70 percent per section); license valid 3 years; 24 CE hours (irrigator) or 16 (technician) to renew | $111 application; $111 renewal |
| Florida Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance | Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services | Required in Florida to spray plant beds and ornamentals | Exam; handheld and backpack sprayers only; no turf; renew yearly with 4 CE hours | Exam fee set by rule at $50–$150; renewal $25–$75 |
| Florida urban landscape fertilizer certification | Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services | Required in Florida since Jan. 1, 2014 for commercial fertilizer application | Best-management-practices training certificate; valid 4 years | $25–$75 set by rule |
| Landscape architect license | State licensing boards | Required in all states to practice landscape architecture | Usually an accredited degree, supervised experience and an exam | Varies by state |
Which one first depends on the branch. For general crew work, NALP’s technician credential is the national certification built around crew-level installation, maintenance and irrigation skills (NALP). For spraying, the state license comes first because it is the legal requirement, not a résumé item. For trees, ISA’s experience requirement means you will be working for at least three years before you can test. For irrigation, the IA CIT is the entry credential, and in Texas the state license is mandatory.
A trade-off worth stating: NALP’s non-member exam fee ($1,150) is close to two weeks’ gross pay at the entry rung ($16.66 x 80 hours = $1,333). The $575 member rate applies when your employer belongs to NALP, so ask at the interview whether the company is a member and whether it pays for the exam.
Do you need a license to be a landscaper?
Usually not for general mowing, planting and maintenance on someone else’s crew. Licensing attaches to regulated activities and to contracting work in your own name, and in some states it applies to individual workers, not only companies. The triggers fall into four groups:
- Pesticides. Federal law requires anyone who applies or supervises the use of restricted-use pesticides to be certified, and EPA notes many states require certification for all commercial pesticide use (EPA). BLS: “Most states require licensing for workers who apply pesticides” (BLS OOH).
- Fertilizer. Rules vary by state (BLS OOH). Florida, for example, has required certification for anyone applying commercial fertilizer to urban landscapes since Jan. 1, 2014 (Fla. Stat. 482.1562).
- Irrigation. In Texas, no one may sell, design, install, maintain, alter, repair or service an irrigation system without a TCEQ license, and technicians connecting a system to a water supply must work under a licensed irrigator (TCEQ).
- Contracting. California licenses landscaping contractors under the C-27 classification (CSLB), and applicants need at least four years of journey-level experience within the last 10 years (CSLB). Oregon’s all-phase Landscape Construction Professional license requires passing six exam sections (Oregon LCB), and Oregon also requires an LCB or CCB license for tree removal, guying, pruning and stump removal (Oregon LCB).
The full state-by-state table, with the agency and license name for every state, is at landscaping license requirements by state.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Licensing and pesticide rules change; confirm with the agency linked for your state before you spray, install irrigation or bid work in your own name.
Where the ladder pays best: state differences
Location moves pay as much as a promotion. A landscaping worker’s median in Massachusetts ($23.40) is higher than a supervisor’s median in Texas ($22.90). The supervisor premium also varies widely by state, from about 22 percent in Illinois to about 58 percent in New York (BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates).
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| State | Landscaping workers employed | Worker median (37-3011) | Supervisor median (37-1012) | Supervisor premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 22,880 | $23.40 | $30.65 | +31.0% |
| Washington | 22,550 | $22.57 | $34.58 | +53.2% |
| Colorado | 21,990 | $22.00 | $29.25 | +33.0% |
| California | 106,180 | $21.90 | $30.42 | +38.9% |
| New York | 47,600 | $21.56 | $34.02 | +57.8% |
| Illinois | 34,780 | $21.05 | $25.65 | +21.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 34,850 | $18.99 | $26.66 | +40.4% |
| Georgia | 25,510 | $18.25 | $26.36 | +44.4% |
| North Carolina | 32,730 | $18.22 | $27.37 | +50.2% |
| Florida | 86,040 | $17.84 | $24.66 | +38.2% |
| Texas | 63,430 | $17.66 | $22.90 | +29.7% |
| Mississippi | 4,940 | $15.21 | $22.66 | +49.0% |
| United States | 952,640 | $18.82 | $28.09 | +49.3% |
For every state and the 25 largest metros, see landscaper salary by state and metro; for business counts and revenue by state, see the landscaping industry by state.
Job outlook for grounds maintenance workers, 2025–35
BLS projects employment of grounds maintenance workers to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3 percent average for all occupations, with about 162,500 openings a year. Most openings come from replacing workers who change occupations or retire, not from growth (BLS OOH, Job Outlook, last modified Sept. 14, 2026).
| Occupation (SOC) | Employment 2025 | Projected 2035 | Change | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 1,188,600 | 1,244,200 | +55,600 | 5% |
| Tree trimmers and pruners (37-3013) | 70,600 | 73,600 | +3,000 | 4% |
| Pesticide handlers, sprayers and applicators, vegetation (37-3012) | 25,700 | 26,700 | +1,000 | 4% |
| Grounds maintenance workers, all other (37-3019) | 14,200 | 14,800 | +500 | 4% |
| All grounds maintenance workers (37-3000) | 1,299,200 | 1,359,300 | +60,100 | 5% |
Pay has also moved. Average annual pay at private landscaping-services employers rose 60.0 percent in ten years, from $32,684 in 2015 to $52,284 in 2025 (BLS QCEW, NAICS 561730, private ownership, annual averages for 2015 and 2025). That average includes managers and office staff, so it runs above the crew-level medians in the ladder table.
The last rung: starting your own landscaping company
About 20 percent of grounds maintenance workers are self-employed (BLS OOH, Work Environment), and BLS notes some workers “use their experience to start their own business”. OEWS does not survey owners (BLS OEWS scope), so there is no owner wage. What Census does publish is revenue, which is not the same as take-home pay.
- The U.S. had 537,970 one-person (nonemployer) landscaping businesses in 2024, averaging $37,227 in receipts each, and 65.5 percent took in less than $25,000 (Census Nonemployer Statistics, 2024).
- The average employer landscaping establishment took in $988,173 in 2022, and payroll consumed 32.3 percent of revenue (Census, 2022 Economic Census, EC2256BASIC).
Read together, the numbers say most solo operators gross less than a crew member earns in wages, before paying for a truck, equipment, fuel and insurance. Out-earning a supervisor’s salary as an owner means building a company that hires, prices work correctly and keeps equipment busy. If that is your goal, a few seasons as a foreman is the cheapest business school available. When you get there, start with how to bid landscaping jobs.
How we built these numbers
Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates. The ladder table uses the national industry-specific file for NAICS 561730 (Landscaping Services, oesm25in4.zip); the state table uses cross-industry state estimates (oesm25st.zip). Annual figures are hourly x 2,080 hours, the BLS convention, rounded to the nearest $10; seasonal workers who work fewer hours earn less than the annual figure.
BLS has no SOC code for crew leader or irrigation technician. We placed crew leaders at the 75th to 90th percentile of the landscaping-worker distribution because experienced, non-supervisory crew members sit in the upper part of that range, while those with formal supervisory duties are coded 37-1012. That mapping is our judgment, not a BLS classification. Irrigation installation is part of BLS’s definition of 37-3011, so irrigation technicians are not separated. Credential fees were read from each issuer’s own page, program guide or the governing statute in October 2026.
What job seekers ask about landscaping careers
Is it hard to become a landscaper?
Getting hired is easy; staying is the hard part. BLS lists no formal education requirement and says on-the-job training typically takes a month or less, but the work is outdoors in all weather, often seasonal, and physically demanding (BLS OOH). Licensed specialties such as pesticide application take longer: BLS says up to a year of training.
Do landscapers make good money?
At the entry level, no. The median landscaping and groundskeeping worker earned $18.82 an hour in May 2025, below the $24.51 median for all U.S. occupations (BLS OOH, Pay). Supervisors earn a $28.09 median and operations managers at landscaping companies $43.26, so the money is in moving up or specializing.
What is the 3-5-7 rule in landscaping?
It is a planting design convention: group plants in odd numbers such as 3, 5 or 7. University of Florida IFAS Extension explains that odd-numbered groupings feel more balanced, read as a single group and allow staggered heights (UF/IFAS, Basic Principles of Landscape Design). It is a guideline, not a regulation.
Is becoming a landscaper worth it?
It depends on whether you plan to climb. Demand is steady, with about 162,500 openings a year projected through 2035 (BLS OOH), and no student debt is needed to enter. The trade-offs are seasonal hours, physical wear and, in tree work, high injury rates. A supervisor median of $28.09 an hour is above the all-occupation median; a laborer’s pay is not.
Can I become a landscaper without a degree?
Yes. BLS says entry-level grounds maintenance jobs typically have no formal education requirement (BLS OOH). A degree matters only for landscape architecture, which BLS says typically requires a bachelor’s degree and a state license (BLS OOH).
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Grounds Maintenance Workers (projections 2025–35), Last modified Sept. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Landscape Architects, Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS tables, May 2025 (industry-specific estimates, NAICS 561730, file oesm25in4.zip), May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state estimates, May 2025 (oesm25st.zip), May 2025. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS: Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (37-3011), May 2025. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS: First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (37-1012), May 2025. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS: Tree Trimmers and Pruners (37-3013), May 2025. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS: Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation (37-3012), May 2025. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS overview and scope, Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, QCEW, NAICS 561730, annual averages, 2025, 2025 annual averages (final). Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, QCEW, NAICS 561730, annual averages, 2015, 2015 annual averages. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, 2024 (nonemp24us.zip), Reference year 2024. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Economic Census, EC2256BASIC, Reference year 2022. Accessed October 2026.
- National Association of Landscape Professionals, Landscape Industry Certified Technician, Fees as posted, October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- National Association of Landscape Professionals, Landscape Industry Announces National Apprenticeship Program, Feb. 11, 2019. Accessed October 2026.
- International Society of Arboriculture, ISA Certified Arborist, Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- International Society of Arboriculture, ISA Certified Arborist Program Guide, Revised August 2025. Accessed October 2026.
- Irrigation Association, Certified Irrigation Technician, Fees as posted, October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense: Professional Certification Programs, Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Certification Standards for Pesticide Applicators, Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Occupational Licenses: Landscape Irrigator, Irrigation Technician, and Irrigation Inspector, Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes 482.156, Limited certification for commercial landscape maintenance personnel, 2026 statutes. Accessed October 2026.
- Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes 482.1562, Limited certification for urban landscape commercial fertilizer application, 2026 statutes. Accessed October 2026.
- California Contractors State License Board, C-27 Landscaping Contractor classification, Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- California Contractors State License Board, Acceptable Supporting Experience Documentation, Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Oregon Landscape Contractors Board, Landscape Construction Professional exam, Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Oregon Landscape Contractors Board, Home page (tree work licensing notice), Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- University of Florida IFAS Extension, Basic Principles of Landscape Design (CIR536/MG086), Revised 2025. Accessed October 2026.
