Horticultural worker vs grounds maintenance worker

The differences between horticultural workers and grounds maintenance workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a horticultural worker, becoming a grounds maintenance worker takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a grounds maintenance worker has an average salary of $28,562, which is higher than the $27,124 average annual salary of a horticultural worker.

The top three skills for a horticultural worker include mowing, GRASS and prune. The most important skills for a grounds maintenance worker are GRASS, grounds maintenance, and mowing.

Horticultural worker vs grounds maintenance worker overview

	Horticultural Worker	Grounds Maintenance Worker
Yearly salary	$27,124	$28,562
Hourly rate	$13.04	$13.73
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	20,323	115,674
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 35%	High School Diploma, 46%
Average age	41	47
Years of experience	2	4

Horticultural worker vs grounds maintenance worker salary

Horticultural workers and grounds maintenance workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Horticultural Worker	Grounds Maintenance Worker
Average salary	$27,124	$28,562
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $34,000	Between $23,000 And $35,000
Highest paying City	Amherst, NY	Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state	Rhode Island	Alaska
Best paying company	Floratech	Lakeland Electric
Best paying industry	Health Care	Finance

Differences between horticultural worker and grounds maintenance worker education

There are a few differences between a horticultural worker and a grounds maintenance worker in terms of educational background:

	Horticultural Worker	Grounds Maintenance Worker
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 35%	High School Diploma, 46%
Most common major	Plant Sciences	Business
Most common college	-	-

Horticultural worker vs grounds maintenance worker demographics

Here are the differences between horticultural workers' and grounds maintenance workers' demographics:

	Horticultural Worker	Grounds Maintenance Worker
Average age	41	47
Gender ratio	Male, 57.1% Female, 42.9%	Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 2.1% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%	Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 4.7% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	3%	2%

Differences between horticultural worker and grounds maintenance worker duties and responsibilities

Horticultural worker example responsibilities.

Used spade, trowels, rakes, sprayers and hedge trimmers for gardening.
Operate leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, weed whackers and mow lawns to maintain gardens and beautify parks.
Remove and mow weeds or grass.
Operate powered equipment such as mowers, chainsaws, electric clippers, edger's.
Maintain a sanitary environment by following company procedures such as raking grass and garbage removal.
Operate power lawnmowers, handsaws, pruners, etc.

Grounds maintenance worker example responsibilities.

Manage hardscape installation team and project
Operate hand or power tools and equipment such as: lawn mowers, shovels, snow blowers, rakes and trimmers.
Used lawn equipment to maintain grass, trees, flower beds, and paper pickup around the outside of where house.
Clean grounds using rakes, brooms, and hoses.
Mow, weed whack, rake, mulch, and prune the grounds as needed.
Remove weeds, debris and trash, edge, water, mow, prune and trim park landscapes.

Horticultural worker vs grounds maintenance worker skills

Common horticultural worker skills

Mowing, 23%
GRASS, 14%
Prune, 10%
Hand Saws, 7%
Plant Identification, 7%
Flower Beds, 7%

Common grounds maintenance worker skills

GRASS, 16%
Grounds Maintenance, 11%
Mowing, 9%
Hand Tools, 7%
Mowers, 4%
Blowers, 4%

Horticultural Worker vs. similar jobs

Horticultural Worker related careers

Horticultural Worker related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Building and Grounds Maintenance Industry
Horticultural Worker
Horticultural Worker vs Grounds Maintenance Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse building and grounds maintenance jobs