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Ground worker vs grounds person

The differences between ground workers and grounds people can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a ground worker and a grounds person. Additionally, a grounds person has an average salary of $33,955, which is higher than the $29,875 average annual salary of a ground worker.

The top three skills for a ground worker include mowing, GRASS and hand tools. The most important skills for a grounds person are ladders, PPE, and CDL.

Ground worker vs grounds person overview

Ground WorkerGrounds Person
Yearly salary$29,875$33,955
Hourly rate$14.36$16.32
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs33,72037,122
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 38%High School Diploma, 55%
Average age4141
Years of experience22

What does a ground worker do?

Groundworkers are part of the construction staff who prepares a site before building. They are responsible for removing the sewage, redirecting water flows using pumps, cementing the project site, and laying the curb. Usually, they provide the tools they need for projects. Groundworkers require basic numeracy because of the nature of their role. They must also be decisive and confident in the quality of their work. Most importantly, this job requires a high level of fitness for safe working in the location.

What does a grounds person do?

A grounds person is responsible for the overall upkeep of an institution's grounds, public parks, and other similar areas. They are usually employed in schools, especially in schools with provisions for outdoor sports or lawn sports such as soccer, golf, tennis, and football, among others. A grounds person is in charge of the maintenance of the grass on the lawn, of the repairs and maintenance of fixtures such as lights, benches, and fountains, and even of the cleanliness of the area. As such, it is expected that a grounds person is familiar with taking care of plants, conducting routine maintenance work, and repairing fixtures.

Ground worker vs grounds person salary

Ground workers and grounds people have different pay scales, as shown below.

Ground WorkerGrounds Person
Average salary$29,875$33,955
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $37,000Between $26,000 And $42,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WAWaltham, MA
Highest paying stateAlaskaMassachusetts
Best paying companyMount St. Mary's UniversitySchnitzer Steel
Best paying industryGovernmentManufacturing

Differences between ground worker and grounds person education

There are a few differences between a ground worker and a grounds person in terms of educational background:

Ground WorkerGrounds Person
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 38%High School Diploma, 55%
Most common majorBusinessGeneral Studies
Most common college--

Ground worker vs grounds person demographics

Here are the differences between ground workers' and grounds people' demographics:

Ground WorkerGrounds Person
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 85.7% Female, 14.3%Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.8% Asian, 2.1% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 2.2% White, 58.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage3%3%

Differences between ground worker and grounds person duties and responsibilities

Ground worker example responsibilities.

  • Manage hardscape installation team and project
  • Operate vehicles and power equipment such as mowers, snow blowers, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
  • Aid in the maintenance of equipment as needed (lawn mowers, tractors, weed-eaters, leaf blowers, etc . )
  • Mow rough, greens, fairways, hand water greens, spread seed on greens and fairways, rake sand traps.
  • Used both hand shovels and plow trucks to remove snow.
  • Operate backhoe and bobcat to assist plumbing and irrigation dept.
  • Show more

Grounds person example responsibilities.

  • Used hand saws and hand pruners as well as motorized saws to manage tree cuttings on the ground.
  • Operate and maintain non CDL truck, bobcat, wood chipper, and grind saw.
  • Perform maintenance and preventative maintenance including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, flooring, painting and suspend ceilings.
  • Operate power equipment such as mowers, snow blowers, chain-saws, electric clippers, sod cutters, and pruning saws.
  • Certify forklift for NC and SC, CPR and first aid
  • Mow lawn, plant flowers and remove litter and snow.
  • Show more

Ground worker vs grounds person skills

Common ground worker skills
  • Mowing, 12%
  • GRASS, 10%
  • Hand Tools, 9%
  • Grounds Maintenance, 8%
  • Blowers, 4%
  • Routine Maintenance, 4%
Common grounds person skills
  • Ladders, 30%
  • PPE, 17%
  • CDL, 9%
  • GRASS, 5%
  • Work Ethic, 5%
  • CPR, 4%

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