Looking for an opportunity where success comes naturally? Then you may have found your crew. We're looking for a Groundsperson to join our team.
Here's what you'd do:
You love to spend your day outdoors cultivating amazing landscapes. You treat grass, trees and plots with great care and attention, doing whatever it takes to help them thrive. Here at BrightView, we appreciate people with such love for landscaping and greenery.
You'd be responsible for:
+ The many activities that make grass, flowers and client relationships bloom. Using a variety of equipment such as mowers, blowers, clippers, and edgers to create and prep soil for plant placement.
+ Set up and clean up, and taking good care of our trucks and machinery.
+ Working as part of a team.
+ Setting up safety items including positioning cones and signs and roping or taping off crew work areas
+ Handing tools to the climber and receiving tools from the climber using a rope to hoist them up into the tree
+ Gathering branches into piles, transporting to the chipper, feeding them into the chipper and unloading tree trunks and chips at the appropriate facility
+ Ensuring that all operations, job sites and employees are safe and that the general public which might come into contact with the area will be safe
+ Communicating effectively with other crew members and the public
You might be a good fit if you have:
+ You must be at least 18 years old, enthusiastic and dependable, and able to safely work with equipment like power saws and cutters.
And while not mandatory, it would be great if you also have:
+ Applicants must be able to work outdoors, in all weather conditions, doing very physical work, able to lift/carry 35-80 pounds often
+ Previous experience is helpful, but you must have an understanding of landscape basics.
+ CDL Driver's License would be a plus
+ Bilingual (Spanish) a plus
Here's what to know about working here:
At BrightView, we're a tight-knit crew who are as passionate about caring for our clients as we are about each other. Though we're the nation's leading landscape company, we maintain a small company feel and supportive environment that makes our team members feel at home.
If you're looking to join a crew of talented go-getters who tackle big vision projects other companies could only dream of, you might just have found your match. With our range of services, including landscape design, development, maintenance and enhancements, there's no limit to what we can do, and what you can achieve.
In addition to industry-leading development opportunities, you'll also have benefits and perks like:
+ Competitive salary
+ Paid time off
+ Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Think you've found your crew?
BrightView is an Equal Employment Opportunity and E-Verify Employer.
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How to hire a grounds person
Grounds person hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring grounds people in the United States:
- HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
- It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
- It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
- The median cost to hire a grounds person is $1,633.
- Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per grounds person on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
- There are currently 12,735 grounds people in the US and 37,122 job openings.
- Charlotte, NC, has the highest demand for grounds people, with 8 job openings.
- Willow Grove, PA has the highest concentration of grounds people.
How to hire a grounds person, step by step
To hire a grounds person, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a grounds person:
Here's a step-by-step grounds person 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 person job description
- Step 5: Post your job
- Step 6: Interview candidates
- Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new grounds person
- Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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.
Post a grounds person job for free, promote it for a fee
Identify your hiring needs
First, determine the employments status of the grounds person you need to hire. Certain grounds person roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.
Determine employee vs contractor statusIs the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?A grounds person's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, grounds people 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.
The following list breaks down different types of grounds people and their corresponding salaries.
Type of Grounds Person Description Hourly rate Grounds Person 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. $12-20 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 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 Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:- Ladders
- PPE
- CDL
- GRASS
- Work Ethic
- CPR
- Hand Tools
- Line Clearance
- Safety Practices
- Blowers
- Customer Service
- Power Saws
- Safety Standards
- Safety Procedures
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.
Make a budget
Including a salary range in your grounds person job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A grounds person 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 person in Alabama may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level grounds person usually earns less than a senior-level grounds person. Additionally, a grounds person 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 person salary
$16.32hourly
$33,955 yearlyEntry-level grounds person salary$26,000 yearly salaryUpdated December 13, 2025Average grounds person salary by state
Rank State Avg. salary Hourly rate 1 Massachusetts $41,569 $20 2 California $39,943 $19 3 Vermont $38,139 $18 4 Colorado $35,973 $17 5 Wisconsin $33,690 $16 6 Maryland $32,890 $16 7 Indiana $32,459 $16 8 Ohio $32,121 $15 9 Michigan $31,840 $15 10 Pennsylvania $31,472 $15 11 Arizona $29,060 $14 12 North Carolina $27,086 $13 13 Texas $26,919 $13 14 Missouri $26,676 $13 15 Kansas $26,491 $13 16 Alabama $25,753 $12 17 Florida $25,442 $12 18 South Carolina $25,383 $12 19 Mississippi $22,194 $11 Average grounds person salary by company
Rank Company Average salary Hourly rate Job openings 1 Schnitzer Steel $39,541 $19.01 2 Foster Farms $38,772 $18.64 2 3 Dunmore $37,999 $18.27 4 New York Power Authority $37,907 $18.22 5 Palace Entertainment $37,798 $18.17 6 Sanctuary $37,617 $18.09 7 Brannan Companies $36,777 $17.68 8 MDU Resources $36,658 $17.62 9 SavATree $36,549 $17.57 200 10 Martin Marietta $36,475 $17.54 24 11 Gold Key Processing $36,465 $17.53 12 Lewis Tree Service $36,345 $17.47 34 13 BrightView Landscape Development Inc $36,063 $17.34 84 14 Asplundh Construction $36,033 $17.32 279 15 Stay Green $36,014 $17.31 16 McLemore Building Maintenance $36,012 $17.31 1 17 Bartlett Tree Experts $35,992 $17.30 275 18 The Davey Tree Expert Company $35,986 $17.30 266 19 Nelson Tree Service $35,981 $17.30 20 Tree.com $35,976 $17.30 Writing a grounds person job description
A grounds person 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 person job description:
Grounds person job description example
Post your job
To find grounds people for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:
- Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
- Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any grounds people they would recommend.
- Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level grounds people with the right educational background.
- Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
- Post your grounds person job on Zippia to find and recruit grounds person candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
Your first interview with grounds person candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.
It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Send a job offer and onboard your new grounds person
Once you have selected a candidate for the grounds person 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.
After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new grounds person. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.
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 grounds person?
Before you start to hire grounds people, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire grounds people pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.
You can expect to pay around $33,955 per year for a grounds person, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for grounds people in the US typically range between $12 and $20 an hour.
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Updated December 13, 2025