How to hire a ground worker

How to hire a ground worker, step by step

Here's a step-by-step ground worker hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a ground worker job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new ground worker
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a ground worker do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the ground worker you need to hire. Certain ground worker roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A ground worker's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, ground workers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of ground workers.

   Type of Ground Worker	Description	Hourly rate
   Ground Worker	Grounds maintenance workers ensure that the grounds of houses, businesses, and parks are attractive, orderly, and healthy in order to provide a pleasant outdoor environment.	$11-17
   Landscape Labour	When it comes to landscape labor, one of the primary responsibilities is to perform landscape support tasks such as trimming the lawn, digging holes, planting flowers and trees, placing garden designs, and installing devices such as sprinkler systems. The majority of the tasks require physical work; there are instances where they must create structures such as ponds, fences, borders, patios, and other outdoor features... Show more	$11-17
   Keeper	A storekeeper is responsible for managing all a store's operations and overseeing the care and maintenance of stocks, including inventory management. Your duties will include receiving, unloading, and shelving supplies, inspecting deliveries for discrepancies and damage, and managing all documentation... Show more	$11-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Mowing
   • GRASS
   • Hand Tools
   • Grounds Maintenance
   • Blowers
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Mowers
   • Perform Routine Maintenance
   • Rakes
   • Snow Removal
   • Minor Maintenance
   • Athletic Fields
   • Manual Labor
   • Snow Blowers

   Check all skills

   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.

   More ground worker duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your ground worker job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A ground worker salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, ground workers' average salary in west virginia is 46% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level ground workers earn 35% less than senior-level ground workers.
   • Certifications. A ground worker with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a ground worker's salary.

   Average ground worker salary

   $14.36hourly

   $29,875 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level ground worker salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 18, 2026

   Average ground worker salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$40,234	$19
   2	California	$38,067	$18
   3	New York	$32,767	$16
   4	Minnesota	$32,321	$16
   5	Colorado	$31,888	$15
   6	Illinois	$30,332	$15
   7	Maryland	$29,587	$14
   8	Wisconsin	$29,049	$14
   9	District of Columbia	$28,849	$14
   10	Georgia	$28,846	$14
   11	Texas	$28,515	$14
   12	Utah	$27,638	$13
   13	North Carolina	$27,609	$13
   14	Virginia	$26,754	$13
   15	Florida	$26,322	$13
   16	South Carolina	$26,069	$13
   17	Wyoming	$24,731	$12
   18	Arizona	$24,233	$12

   Average ground worker salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Mount St. Mary's University	$40,598	$19.52	1
   2	Granada Hills Charter	$39,182	$18.84
   3	Grossmont College	$38,058	$18.30
   4	The University of Chicago	$38,043	$18.29	4
   5	Northwest Center	$36,707	$17.65
   6	Erickson Senior Living	$36,554	$17.57	8
   7	Minnesota State Fair	$36,160	$17.38	12
   8	Gainesville Regional Utilities	$34,782	$16.72
   9	Castro Valley USD	$34,513	$16.59
   10	Renton Technical College	$34,333	$16.51
   11	St. Lawrence University	$34,177	$16.43
   12	Allied Mineral Products	$33,399	$16.06
   13	Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES	$33,216	$15.97
   14	Kern Community College District	$33,142	$15.93	4
   15	City of Springfield	$33,049	$15.89	2
   16	FedEx	$33,004	$15.87	3
   17	Cornell University	$32,897	$15.82	11
   18	Jordan/Jackson Elementary School	$32,827	$15.78	3
   19	BHI Energy	$32,761	$15.75
   20	Brown University	$32,689	$15.72

4. Writing a ground worker job description

   A ground worker job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a ground worker job description:

   Ground worker job description example

   Maris Grove is a beautiful 87-acre continuing care retirement community located in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. We're part of a growing network of communities developed and managed by Erickson Senior Living, a national provider of senior living and health care with campuses in 11 states-and growing.
   
   We are hiring a Grounds Worker for our award-winning community. The Grounds Worker is a member of the General Services Grounds Department and will assist the Maintenance Mechanic and Grounds Supervisor on the maintenance of all exterior areas.
   Rate will be commensurate with experience starting at $15.00 per hour.
   
   How you will make an impact:
   Assist in the maintenance of landscaping.Upkeep all exterior areas, including trash removal, weeding, pet stations, dog runs, fencing, etc.Install and maintain exterior signs Assist residents with gardening.Assists in the snow removal of the community and maintenance of equipment.
   
   What we offer:
   Competitive benefits packages including medical, dental, vision, and PTO401k for all employees 18 and over. Company contribution up to 3% once eligible.Onsite medical centers, providing wellness visits and sick care for all employees over 18 years of age.Discounted meals in our restaurants Gated community with 24/7 security Free onsite parking at all of our communities and corporate officesA culture of diversity and inclusion, which builds on our values, vision, and mission.Education assistance, certification reimbursement, and student loan refinancing partnership programs are available.
   
   What you will need:
   High school diploma or GED required.Minimum one-year applicable work experience preferred.Must be able to work independently.Ability to use required equipment and implement all plans formulated by Grounds Management.A valid driver's license is required.May be required to work a non-standard schedule. In addition, maybe assigned an on-call schedule as needed.
   
   Erickson Senior Living, its affiliates, and managed communities are Equal Opportunity Employers and are committed to providing a workplace free of unlawful discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, veteran status, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find ground workers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your ground worker job on Zippia to find and recruit ground worker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit ground workers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new ground worker

   Once you have selected a candidate for the ground worker position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a ground worker?