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Ground crew salary
Average ground crew salary
$16.05
Understanding Ground Crew Salaries
The role of a ground crew member is vital in the aviation sector, encompassing a range of responsibilities from fueling and baggage handling to maintenance and safety checks. As of October 2025, the average salary for ground crew positions stands at $33,390 per year or approximately $16 per hour. However, salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as experience, location, and the specific employer.
Salary Variation by Experience Level
Entry-level ground crew members typically start at lower wages, while those with several years of experience may see their earnings rise considerably. For instance, individuals with 5-10 years in the field can earn upwards of $40,000 annually. Moreover, pursuing additional certifications or specialized training can enhance job prospects and salary potential.
Top-Paying Locations
Ground crew salaries also differ by location. States like California and New York tend to offer higher wages due to the cost of living and demand for skilled labor in major airports. Additionally, metropolitan areas with high air traffic often provide better compensation packages.
Exploring Job Opportunities
For those interested in pursuing a ground crew position, Zippia offers a comprehensive job board, connecting you to a range of employment opportunities across the country. Stay informed about salary trends and job openings to navigate your career in this essential field.
Let Zippia find your next ground crew job
Let Zippia find your next ground crew job
Where can a Ground Crew earn more?
Ground crew salaries by experience level
Average ground crew salary by state
The average ground crew salary in Massachusetts, North Dakota, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average ground crew salary states are North Carolina, Alabama, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for ground crews
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $43,022 | $20.68 |
| 2 | Iowa | $37,801 | $18.17 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $42,457 | $20.41 |
| 4 | Michigan | $36,676 | $17.63 |
| 5 | Washington | $40,849 | $19.64 |
| 6 | Illinois | $37,813 | $18.18 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $43,564 | $20.94 |
| 8 | Vermont | $40,033 | $19.25 |
| 9 | Alaska | $42,863 | $20.61 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $35,882 | $17.25 |
| 11 | Montana | $38,144 | $18.34 |
| 12 | Ohio | $35,846 | $17.23 |
| 13 | Maine | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $35,580 | $17.11 |
| 15 | Oregon | $39,110 | $18.80 |
| 16 | Indiana | $34,659 | $16.66 |
| 17 | Utah | $35,578 | $17.10 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $37,610 | $18.08 |
| 19 | Delaware | $37,682 | $18.12 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $37,905 | $18.22 |
| 21 | New York | $39,885 | $19.18 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $37,848 | $18.20 |
| 23 | Idaho | $35,392 | $17.02 |
| 24 | Kansas | $33,869 | $16.28 |
| 25 | California | $37,976 | $18.26 |
| 26 | Colorado | $35,359 | $17.00 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $34,699 | $16.68 |
| 28 | Texas | $33,704 | $16.20 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $34,453 | $16.56 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $34,609 | $16.64 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $33,731 | $16.22 |
| 32 | Nevada | $34,498 | $16.59 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $31,225 | $15.01 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $29,995 | $14.42 |
| 35 | Georgia | $30,893 | $14.85 |
| 36 | Missouri | $30,895 | $14.85 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $29,873 | $14.36 |
| 38 | Arizona | $32,185 | $15.47 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $29,889 | $14.37 |
| 40 | Maryland | $33,213 | $15.97 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $31,434 | $15.11 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $28,283 | $13.60 |
| 43 | Virginia | $30,913 | $14.86 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $33,422 | $16.07 |
| 45 | Florida | $29,199 | $14.04 |
| 46 | District of Columbia | $34,425 | $16.55 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $26,598 | $12.79 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $28,947 | $13.92 |
| 49 | Alabama | $28,723 | $13.81 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $27,770 | $13.35 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $26,425 | $12.70 |
Highest paying cities for ground crews
The highest-paying cities for ground crews are Juneau, AK, Mount Vernon, WA, and Rochester, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juneau, AK | $42,403 | $20.39 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $41,013 | $19.72 |
| 3 | Rochester, NY | $40,988 | $19.71 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $39,188 | $18.84 |
| 5 | Fresno, CA | $38,493 | $18.51 |
| 6 | West Chicago, IL | $38,008 | $18.27 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $36,694 | $17.64 |
| 8 | Akron, OH | $36,608 | $17.60 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $35,395 | $17.02 |
| 10 | Idaho Falls, ID | $35,079 | $16.86 |
| 11 | Shoreview, MN | $34,739 | $16.70 |
| 12 | Fishers, IN | $34,504 | $16.59 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $34,455 | $16.56 |
| 14 | Denton, TX | $34,102 | $16.40 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh, PA | $33,398 | $16.06 |
| 16 | Frederick, MD | $33,366 | $16.04 |
| 17 | Greer, SC | $30,539 | $14.68 |
| 18 | Largo, FL | $29,254 | $14.06 |
| 19 | Durham, NC | $29,172 | $14.03 |
| 20 | Fayetteville, AR | $28,797 | $13.84 |
Ground crew salary details
A ground crew's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $41,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a ground crew's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| Average | $33,390 | $2,783 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
Highest paying ground crew jobs
The highest paying types of ground crews are crew foreman, landscape crew leader, and irrigation technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keeper | $33,606 | $2,800 | $16.16 | 3,285 |
| Landscape Labour | $29,047 | $2,421 | $13.97 | 30,546 |
| Landscaper | $28,952 | $2,413 | $13.92 | 11,147 |
| Irrigation Technician | $35,472 | $2,956 | $17.05 | 27,291 |
| Crew Foreman | $51,929 | $4,327 | $24.97 | 70,468 |
| Lawn Care Worker | $29,667 | $2,472 | $14.26 | 88,268 |
Which companies pay ground crews the most?
Ground crew salaries at Elcona Pro Shop and AEG are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average ground crew salary at companies like Loyola University Maryland and Golden Sands General Contractors are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elcona Pro Shop | $41,735 | $20.06 |
| 2 | AEG | $40,054 | $19.26 |
| 3 | Loyola University Maryland | $39,298 | $18.89 |
| 4 | Golden Sands General Contractors | $38,301 | $18.41 |
| 5 | Robbinsdale Area Schools | $38,218 | $18.37 |
| 6 | Worcester Academy | $37,605 | $18.08 |
| 7 | Ilitch Holdings | $37,271 | $17.92 |
| 8 | Hayden & Associates Inc. | $37,208 | $17.89 |
| 9 | UFP Industries | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| 10 | Hollywood Park Casino | $36,370 | $17.49 |
| 11 | Washington County | $35,132 | $16.89 |
| 12 | Fallon | $34,979 | $16.82 |
| 13 | MyrtleBeach.com | $34,712 | $16.69 |
| 14 | St Joseph Medical Group | $34,669 | $16.67 |
| 15 | Cleveland Indians Baseball Company Limited Partnership | $34,504 | $16.59 |
| 16 | Landscapes Unlimited | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| 17 | Advance Holding Corporation | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| 18 | Scioto Services Llc | $34,336 | $16.51 |
| 19 | Ball Horticultural | $34,302 | $16.49 |
| 20 | Denali Water Solutions | $34,103 | $16.40 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Ground Crew salary by industry
The average ground crew salary varies across industries:
- The average ground crew salary in the manufacturing industry is $34,910, the highest of any industry.
- The average ground crew salary in the finance industry is $34,167.
- Ground crews in the transportation industry earn an average salary of $31,159, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for ground crews
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $34,910 | $16.78 |
| 2 | Government | $34,167 | $16.43 |
| 3 | Technology | $33,747 | $16.22 |
| 4 | Education | $32,239 | $15.50 |
| 5 | Hospitality | $32,129 | $15.45 |
| 6 | Media | $31,852 | $15.31 |
| 7 | Transportation | $31,159 | $14.98 |
High paying ground crew jobs
Ground crew salary trends
The average ground crew salary has risen by $8,755 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average ground crew earned $24,635 annually, but today, they earn $33,390 a year. That works out to a 21% change in pay for ground crews over the last decade.
Compare ground crew salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average ground crew salary over time
Compare ground crew salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Ground crew salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,400 | $16.05 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | $32,000 | $15.40 | +4.7% |
| 2023 | $30,500 | $14.67 | +4.6% |
| 2022 | $29,100 | $14.00 | +4.9% |
| 2021 | $27,700 | $13.32 | +4.9% |
Recently added ground crew salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder | Grounds Crew Member | Boulder, CO | 06/30/2025 | $39,444 |
| Association for Institutional Research In The Upper Midwest | Casual-Grounds Crew | Appleton, WI | 06/29/2025 | $31,305 |
| Landry's | Grounds Crew Member | Denver, CO | 06/26/2025 | $39,653 |
| Jolietpark | Facility Attendant-Athletic Grounds Crew Lead | Joliet, IL | 06/16/2025 | $35,479 |
| Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium | Grounds Crew Member | Omaha, NE | 06/12/2025 | $28,696 |
| Joliet Park District | Facility Attendant-Athletic Grounds Crew Lead | Joliet, IL | 06/12/2025 | $35,479 |
| Monster Tree Service | Grounds Crew-Monster Tree Service of ST. Charles | Saint Louis, MO | 06/11/2025 | $33,392 |
| Monster Tree Service | Grounds Crew-Monster Tree Service of Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 06/11/2025 | $41,740 |
| Monster Tree Service | Grounds Crew-Monster Tree Service of Rockland and Westchester Counties | Spring Valley, NY | 06/11/2025 | $37,566 |
| Monster Tree Service | Grounds Crew-Monster Tree Service of North Anne Arundel County | Cockeysville, MD | 06/11/2025 | $41,740 |
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