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The average salary for a grounds keeper is currently $30,535 per year, equating to approximately $15 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific duties involved in the role. For instance, grounds keepers working in urban areas or high-demand regions may see salaries exceeding the average.
Entry-level positions typically start around $25,000, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $35,000 annually. Additionally, specialization in landscape management or horticulture can enhance earning potential.
Grounds keeper salaries also vary by state. For example, states like California and New York often offer higher wages due to increased cost of living and demand for landscaping services. Major cities tend to pay more than rural areas, reflecting local market conditions.
Some of the highest paying cities for grounds keepers include:
By understanding these factors, aspiring grounds keepers can make informed career choices and seek opportunities that align with their financial goals.
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The average grounds keeper salary in Washington, Massachusetts, and North Dakota are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average grounds keeper salary states are Louisiana, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $35,492 | $17.06 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $38,874 | $18.69 |
| 3 | Vermont | $34,470 | $16.57 |
| 4 | Montana | $34,225 | $16.45 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $34,714 | $16.69 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $34,088 | $16.39 |
| 7 | Alaska | $37,807 | $18.18 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $36,435 | $17.52 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $38,026 | $18.28 |
| 10 | Colorado | $34,043 | $16.37 |
| 11 | Washington | $39,397 | $18.94 |
| 12 | Oregon | $35,672 | $17.15 |
| 13 | California | $36,189 | $17.40 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $31,777 | $15.28 |
| 15 | Idaho | $33,788 | $16.24 |
| 16 | Utah | $32,389 | $15.57 |
| 17 | Maine | $32,354 | $15.55 |
| 18 | New York | $33,941 | $16.32 |
| 19 | Nevada | $30,715 | $14.77 |
| 20 | Michigan | $29,137 | $14.01 |
| 21 | Iowa | $29,723 | $14.29 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $33,179 | $15.95 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $30,329 | $14.58 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $35,940 | $17.28 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $30,518 | $14.67 |
| 26 | Ohio | $27,661 | $13.30 |
| 27 | Arizona | $28,979 | $13.93 |
| 28 | Maryland | $29,408 | $14.14 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $28,371 | $13.64 |
| 30 | Illinois | $30,127 | $14.48 |
| 31 | Kansas | $28,364 | $13.64 |
| 32 | Indiana | $27,609 | $13.27 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $28,764 | $13.83 |
| 34 | Missouri | $28,036 | $13.48 |
| 35 | Delaware | $28,223 | $13.57 |
| 36 | Texas | $28,400 | $13.65 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $26,728 | $12.85 |
| 38 | Georgia | $27,015 | $12.99 |
| 39 | Florida | $26,248 | $12.62 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $25,663 | $12.34 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $26,415 | $12.70 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $25,741 | $12.38 |
| 43 | Virginia | $26,349 | $12.67 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $27,465 | $13.20 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $22,856 | $10.99 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $21,650 | $10.41 |
| 47 | District of Columbia | $28,467 | $13.69 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $26,505 | $12.74 |
| 49 | Alabama | $26,087 | $12.54 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $26,011 | $12.51 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $24,756 | $11.90 |
The highest-paying cities for grounds keepers are Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, and Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $39,468 | $18.98 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $35,702 | $17.16 |
| 3 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | $35,523 | $17.08 |
| 4 | Fort Collins, CO | $34,375 | $16.53 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $33,749 | $16.23 |
| 6 | Salt Lake City, UT | $32,456 | $15.60 |
| 7 | Aurora, IL | $30,175 | $14.51 |
| 8 | Columbia, MD | $29,378 | $14.12 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $29,059 | $13.97 |
| 10 | Fort Worth, TX | $28,469 | $13.69 |
| 11 | Kansas City, MO | $28,422 | $13.66 |
| 12 | Kansas City, KS | $28,375 | $13.64 |
| 13 | Sioux Falls, SD | $28,343 | $13.63 |
| 14 | Upper Darby, PA | $28,272 | $13.59 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $27,453 | $13.20 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $27,300 | $13.13 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $27,093 | $13.03 |
| 18 | Charlotte, NC | $26,694 | $12.83 |
| 19 | Oklahoma City, OK | $26,563 | $12.77 |
| 20 | Tampa, FL | $26,306 | $12.65 |
A grounds keeper's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $37,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| Average | $30,535 | $2,545 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of grounds keepers are landscape crew leader, irrigation technician, and grounds person.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn Care Worker | $29,667 | $2,472 | $14.26 | 88,268 |
| Irrigation Technician | $35,472 | $2,956 | $17.05 | 27,291 |
| Yard Worker | $32,628 | $2,719 | $15.69 | 63,408 |
| Landscape Crew Leader | $38,386 | $3,199 | $18.45 | 85,218 |
| Landscape Labour | $29,047 | $2,421 | $13.97 | 30,546 |
| Gardener | $32,912 | $2,743 | $15.82 | 5,411 |
Top companies hiring grounds keepers now:
Grounds keeper salaries at Columbia University in the City of New York and Saint Xavier University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average grounds keeper salary at companies like Stanford University and University of Scranton are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $41,752 | $20.07 |
| 2 | Saint Xavier University | $40,932 | $19.68 |
| 3 | Stanford University | $40,251 | $19.35 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 17 | Dickinson College | $37,603 | $18.08 |
| 18 | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory | $37,369 | $17.97 |
| 19 | Sentry | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| 20 | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | $37,071 | $17.82 |
The average grounds keeper salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $32,958 | $15.85 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $31,444 | $15.12 |
| 3 | Real Estate | $30,861 | $14.84 |
| 4 | Education | $30,707 | $14.76 |
| 5 | Manufacturing | $30,616 | $14.72 |
| 6 | Transportation | $29,886 | $14.37 |
| 7 | Government | $28,359 | $13.63 |
The average grounds keeper salary has risen by $8,007 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average grounds keeper earned $22,528 annually, but today, they earn $30,535 a year. That works out to a 21% change in pay for grounds keepers over the last decade.
Compare grounds keeper salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare grounds keeper salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30,500 | $14.68 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | $29,300 | $14.08 | +4.7% |
| 2023 | $27,900 | $13.42 | +4.6% |
| 2022 | $26,600 | $12.80 | +4.9% |
| 2021 | $25,300 | $12.18 | +4.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Corporation International | Groundskeeper | San Diego, CA | 06/30/2025 | $35,479 |
| Service Corporation International | Groundskeeper | Coon Rapids, MN | 06/30/2025 | $37,566 |
| The University of Chicago | Groundskeeper | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $50,944 |
| Curry College | Sanitation Groundskeeper-Curry College | Milton, MA | 06/30/2025 | $43,430 |
| Utah Valley University | Groundskeeper III-Sports Fields | Orem, UT | 06/30/2025 | $34,398 |
| Two Rivers YMCA | Groundskeeper | East Moline, IL | 06/30/2025 | $31,305 |
| Hayesgibson | Groundskeeper | Cincinnati, OH | 06/30/2025 | $31,305 |
| Asmglobal | Groundskeeper | Long Beach, CA | 06/30/2025 | $33,392 |
| Everstory Partners | Cemetery Groundskeeper | Daytona Beach, FL | 06/30/2025 | $31,305 |
| Everstory Partners | Cemetery Groundskeeper | Lansing, MI | 06/30/2025 | $31,305 |
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