Post job

Grounds manager vs plant manager

The differences between grounds managers and plant managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a grounds manager and a plant manager. Additionally, a plant manager has an average salary of $113,843, which is higher than the $35,610 average annual salary of a grounds manager.

The top three skills for a grounds manager include lawn care, grounds maintenance and athletic fields. The most important skills for a plant manager are continuous improvement, customer service, and safety program.

Grounds manager vs plant manager overview

Grounds ManagerPlant Manager
Yearly salary$35,610$113,843
Hourly rate$17.12$54.73
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs270,360275,962
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4444
Years of experience66

What does a grounds manager do?

The grounds manager is the person in charge of the groundskeeping team that maintains the outdoor areas of a facility or building like an office complex, school campus, etc. The manager is in charge of the maintenance and landscaping of outdoor areas. You may be required to coordinate and oversee the schedules and assignments given to groundskeepers. Your duties will also include monitoring the performance of workers, hiring working staff, and developing cost estimates for clients. Your primary goal is to ensure all the workers under you carry out their responsibilities and that everything meets the client's satisfaction.

What does a plant manager do?

In general, plant managers are responsible for the entire operations in a manufacturing plant. Plant managers plan, direct, organize, and run the optimum operations of the plant daily. They create and execute organizational or departmental goals procedures, and policies. They aim to increase the manufacturing production and the capacity and flexibility of its assets while keeping its current quality standards and unnecessary costs. They are expected to have a better understanding of the manufacturing industry like equipment use and mechanical aptitude.

Grounds manager vs plant manager salary

Grounds managers and plant managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Grounds ManagerPlant Manager
Average salary$35,610$113,843
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $49,000Between $85,000 And $152,000
Highest paying City-Richmond, CA
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Koch Industries
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between grounds manager and plant manager education

There are a few differences between a grounds manager and a plant manager in terms of educational background:

Grounds ManagerPlant Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Grounds manager vs plant manager demographics

Here are the differences between grounds managers' and plant managers' demographics:

Grounds ManagerPlant Manager
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 86.9% Female, 13.1%Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 6.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between grounds manager and plant manager duties and responsibilities

Grounds manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage and perform mowing schedules, spring and fall clean ups and landscape maintenance.
  • Manage sales, run machinary, complete wekly inventory, run forklift, deliver orders, and keep financial records
  • Install sod ('Celebration' Bermuda) and over-seed rye grass (cv.
  • Mow and edge lawns and flowerbeds using weed whackers and driving/pushing lawn mowers.
  • Maintain all mowers, weed eaters, chain saws, field sprayers, and tractors.
  • Perform contractor supervision and oversight during equipment end of life overhauls and new equipment installs.
  • Show more

Plant manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage 65 plant production and five plant supervisors in bilingual union manufacturing HVAC plant.
  • Manage compliance and training for the facility HACCP plan and are awarded PICQS plus status on annual audit.
  • Lead skilled trades in the repair and maintenance of robotics, PLC, hydraulic and electrical switchgear applications.
  • Lead OEE & SMED initiatives to improve machine utilization, up-time, throughput, change-over time, & yield.
  • Manage daily operations of USDA facility.
  • Coordinate monthly safety meetings, provide training and lead internal inspections that foster OSHA awareness.
  • Show more

Grounds manager vs plant manager skills

Common grounds manager skills
  • Lawn Care, 14%
  • Grounds Maintenance, 11%
  • Athletic Fields, 11%
  • GRASS, 9%
  • OSHA, 7%
  • Snow Removal, 6%
Common plant manager skills
  • Continuous Improvement, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Safety Program, 6%
  • Plant Operations, 6%
  • Lean Manufacturing, 6%
  • OSHA, 5%

Browse executive management jobs