How to hire a grounds keeper

How to hire a grounds keeper, step by step

Here's a step-by-step grounds keeper hiring guide:

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

What does a grounds keeper do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The grounds keeper hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect grounds keeper also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of grounds keeper salaries for various roles:

   Type of Grounds Keeper	Description	Hourly rate
   Grounds Keeper	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
   Lawn Care Worker	A lawn care worker specializes in enhancing and maintaining the cleanliness of gardens and landscapes. Most of the responsibilities will require manual work and attention to detail, along with time management... Show more	$11-18
   Irrigation Technician	An irrigation technician is responsible for installing, testing, and maintaining irrigation equipment such as sprinklers, suction valves, and pumps. Typical duties for this position include operating heavy machinery for trenching, installing wiring systems for irrigation timers, and inspecting equipment for a day's work... Show more	$12-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • GRASS
   • PET
   • Lawn Care
   • Snow Blowers
   • Mowing
   • Weed Control
   • Minor Maintenance
   • Snow Removal
   • Cleanliness
   • Grounds Maintenance
   • Asphalt
   • Mowers
   • General Upkeep
   • Blowers

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage hardscape installation team and project
   • Remove debris from stairs and walks, rakes leaves, and mows lawns.
   • Remove leaves and other debris from graves, using leaf blowers, rakes, and weed eaters.
   • Perform flower and foliage care and planting, raking or blowing leaves, mowing grass, mulching and removing weeds.
   • Assist with general building maintenance including plumbing and electrical repairs.
   • Used spray guns, brushes, brooms, cleaning solutions, ladders.

   More grounds keeper duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your grounds keeper job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A grounds keeper salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a grounds keeper in Louisiana may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level grounds keeper usually earns less than a senior-level grounds keeper. Additionally, a grounds keeper with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average grounds keeper salary

   $14.68hourly

   $30,535 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level grounds keeper salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average grounds keeper salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$39,468	$19
   2	Oregon	$35,702	$17
   3	California	$35,523	$17
   4	Colorado	$34,375	$17
   5	New York	$33,749	$16
   6	Utah	$32,456	$16
   7	Illinois	$30,175	$15
   8	Maryland	$29,378	$14
   9	Arizona	$29,059	$14
   10	Texas	$28,469	$14
   11	Missouri	$28,422	$14
   12	Kansas	$28,375	$14
   13	South Dakota	$28,343	$14
   14	Pennsylvania	$28,272	$14
   15	Indiana	$27,453	$13
   16	Ohio	$27,300	$13
   17	Georgia	$27,093	$13
   18	North Carolina	$26,694	$13
   19	Oklahoma	$26,563	$13
   20	Florida	$26,306	$13

   Average grounds keeper salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Columbia University in the City of New York	$41,752	$20.07
   2	Saint Xavier University	$40,932	$19.68	1
   3	Stanford University	$40,251	$19.35	5
   4	University of Scranton	$40,219	$19.34
   5	Lexington Country Club	$39,858	$19.16
   6	Green Hill	$39,513	$19.00
   7	Roberts Wesleyan College	$39,460	$18.97
   8	University of California-Berkeley	$39,184	$18.84
   9	Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College	$38,859	$18.68
   10	UC Santa Barbara	$38,735	$18.62
   11	University of California	$38,535	$18.53	2
   12	NBCUniversal	$38,442	$18.48
   13	Simi Valley Unified School District	$38,392	$18.46
   14	Haverford College	$38,317	$18.42
   15	RES Success	$38,312	$18.42
   16	Misericordia University	$38,280	$18.40	6
   17	Dickinson College	$37,603	$18.08
   18	Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory	$37,369	$17.97	1
   19	Sentry	$37,080	$17.83
   20	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	$37,071	$17.82

4. Writing a grounds keeper job description

   A grounds keeper 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 grounds keeper job description:

   Grounds keeper job description example

   ISS offers a competitive compensation package including Benefits, Paid Time Off, and a starting hourly salary of 18.00 USD

   Key Purpose

   The groundskeeper is part of janitorial/custodial team. This role is responsible to keep assigned areas, such as outdoor entryway and walkways in a clean and orderly condition. Work successfully with fellow employees & others. Understand and follow instructions, both verbal and written. Explain how to complete a task, understand instructions for task using basic communication skills.

   Success Criteria

   · Develop own skill base in line with agreed appraisal, taking responsibility for increased performance, and ensuring continued self-improvement

   · Participate and embrace the development opportunities within group

   Key Areas of Collaboration and Influence

   · Support the team, and report to the Key Account Manager

   · Communicate effectively with colleagues within the Business Unit and across the company so that information is disseminated effectively and participate in project groups and meetings as required

   Ideal Candidate Experience

   · No prior experience or training required

   · Recognize and understand safety signs and building warning systems

   · Understand safety requirements, understand & meet company handbook expectations

   · Ability to change tasks or assignments outside normal duties

   · Work in a team environment

   · Ability to operate various types of power equipment including lawnmowers, trimmers, leaf blowers, and other landscaping equipment

   · Ability to use hand tools required for landscaping

   Key Accountabilities

   · Comply with safety rules, policies, and procedures; stop at-risk behavior of others and self

   · Perform work assignments in a team with other employees

   · Perform repetitive tasks

   · Primarily dedicated to an outdoor environment

   · Cleaning walkways

   · Picking up and taking out trash

   · Weather-related upkeep and cleaning

   · Follow all company procedures, policies, and rules

   · Take direction and respond to supervision

   · Talk with lead, supervisor, co-workers, managers, and customers in a professional manner

   · Fill in during staff shortage

   · Support shift lead in completing punch-list items

   · Use proper personal protective equipment

   · Present a professional appearance and conduct

   · Understand customer service and satisfaction

   · Understand reporting systems, and of the environment

   Physical Demands & Work Environment

   · Must be able to understand one’s own physical limitations to the extent necessary to perform the necessary functions and tasks of the job

   · The ability to stand 33%, Walk >66%, Sit <10%

   · Use of hands to finger, handle, rub, grip, and feel <66%

   · Reach above shoulders <33%, Push/pull and grasp with hands and arms 33-50%

   · Climb or balance <33%

   · Stoop, Kneel, Crouch, or Crawl <33%

   · Frequently lift 0-10 pounds carry 1-3 feet

   · Occasionally lift 35 pounds and carry 1-5 feet

   · Talk and hear 100%

   · Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust and focus 100%

   · Frequently lift 0-10 pounds and carry 1-3 feet

   · Occasionally lift 35 pounds and carry 1-5 feet

   · Exposure to outside weather conditions

   · Must be able to work under pressure and time deadlines during peak periods

   As a global organization, ISS Group is committed to making the international community more resilient and just for all people. We encourage diversity and inclusion in their broadest terms, including ethnicity, race, age, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language, culture, and educational background. We look to lead our industry by example and to positively influence the market wherever we operate.

   Company DescriptionAs a global organization, ISS Group is committed to making the international community more resilient and just for all people. We encourage diversity and inclusion in their broadest terms, including ethnicity, race, age, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language, culture, and educational background. We look to lead our industry by example and to positively influence the market wherever we operate.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right grounds keeper for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with grounds keepers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit grounds keepers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit grounds keepers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   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 grounds keeper

   Once you've decided on a perfect grounds keeper candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new grounds keeper first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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