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Landscaper vs landscape crew leader

The differences between landscapers and landscape crew leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a landscaper and a landscape crew leader. Additionally, a landscape crew leader has an average salary of $38,386, which is higher than the $28,952 average annual salary of a landscaper.

The top three skills for a landscaper include mowing, taking care and GRASS. The most important skills for a landscape crew leader are customer service, grounds maintenance, and landscape maintenance.

Landscaper vs landscape crew leader overview

LandscaperLandscape Crew Leader
Yearly salary$28,952$38,386
Hourly rate$13.92$18.45
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs11,14785,218
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 49%High School Diploma, 37%
Average age4141
Years of experience22

What does a landscaper do?

A landscaper is responsible for maintaining gardens, plant areas, and other outdoor facilities. Landscapers' duties include reviewing and adjusting landscape design based on the clients' specifications, analyzing garden layouts, measuring land areas and surfaces for the design outlines, installing irrigation systems, maintaining plant growth, and applying fertilizers regularly. Landscapers will also work on removing weeds, trimming overgrown plants, checking defects on landscape equipment, and coordinating with other outdoor design professionals. A landscaper should be knowledgeable about the recent landscaping trends to suggest designs and improve the landscape presentation.

What does a landscape crew leader do?

A landscape crew leader works hand-in-hand with a Foreman during the landscape project installation. This professional represents the organization's best interest and maintains top-notch professionalism and integrity. Besides maintaining a clean project site and a fully equipped and orderly equipment trailer, a landscape crew leader also manages and instructs the team to create a top-notch and profitable product even in the absence of a Foreman. Moreover, landscape crew leaders teach and train team members to follow the right procedures and processes.

Landscaper vs landscape crew leader salary

Landscapers and landscape crew leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.

LandscaperLandscape Crew Leader
Average salary$28,952$38,386
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $36,000Between $29,000 And $50,000
Highest paying CitySanta Clara, CAMinneapolis, MN
Highest paying stateMassachusettsMassachusetts
Best paying companyPrinceton UniversityStantec
Best paying industryHealth CareUtilities

Differences between landscaper and landscape crew leader education

There are a few differences between a landscaper and a landscape crew leader in terms of educational background:

LandscaperLandscape Crew Leader
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 49%High School Diploma, 37%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Landscaper vs landscape crew leader demographics

Here are the differences between landscapers' and landscape crew leaders' demographics:

LandscaperLandscape Crew Leader
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 91.0% Female, 9.0%Male, 90.1% Female, 9.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 1.5% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 1.9% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage3%3%

Differences between landscaper and landscape crew leader duties and responsibilities

Landscaper example responsibilities.

  • Manage clients and run all landscape operations including groundskeeping, seasonal cleaning, and pressure washing
  • Manage hardscape installation team and project
  • Operate powered equipment such as mowers, tractors, snow blowers, chainsaws, sod cutters, pruning saws and edgers.
  • Install plants, landscape lighting, and hardscape features (including retaining walls, paving stones and ponds).
  • Used various tools to cut grass, prune small trees and shrubbery, paint, and perform other landscaping duties.
  • Operate weed-whacker, leaf blower, lawn mower, and use of handsaw, shovels, and clippers as needed.
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Landscape crew leader example responsibilities.

  • Manage hardscape installation team and project
  • Use of hand tools such as shovels, rakes, saws, hedges, and brush trimmers.
  • Use hand tools such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, hedge and brush clippers and axes.
  • Operate power equipment such as mowers, chain-saws, sod cutters, weed eaters, and blowers.
  • Operate vehicles and power equipment's such as mowers, tractors, blowers, chain saws, and electric clipper.
  • Repair irrigation lines, prune trees, till volleyball courts and pick up trash as needed.
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Landscaper vs landscape crew leader skills

Common landscaper skills
  • Mowing, 19%
  • Taking Care, 14%
  • GRASS, 12%
  • Power Saws, 11%
  • Prune, 7%
  • Golf Courses, 6%
Common landscape crew leader skills
  • Customer Service, 36%
  • Grounds Maintenance, 17%
  • Landscape Maintenance, 8%
  • Taking Care, 6%
  • Mowing, 5%
  • GRASS, 5%

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