Post job

Parks maintenance worker vs ground worker

The differences between parks maintenance workers and ground workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a parks maintenance worker, becoming a ground worker takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a parks maintenance worker has an average salary of $31,627, which is higher than the $29,875 average annual salary of a ground worker.

The top three skills for a parks maintenance worker include mowing, GRASS and hand tools. The most important skills for a ground worker are mowing, GRASS, and hand tools.

Parks maintenance worker vs ground worker overview

Parks Maintenance WorkerGround Worker
Yearly salary$31,627$29,875
Hourly rate$15.21$14.36
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs110,81133,720
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%High School Diploma, 38%
Average age4741
Years of experience42

What does a parks maintenance worker do?

Park maintenance workers are skilled employees who are employed by the government to maintain the health and safety of landscapes and features in public parks. These workers must maintain the beauty of park grounds by keeping lawns green and tending to annual flowers that change with the seasons. They are required to operate heavy equipment to transport materials and tools that are necessary to perform maintenance tasks. Park maintenance workers must also perform safety inspections on playground equipment to ensure safe use by the public.

What does a ground worker do?

Groundworkers are part of the construction staff who prepares a site before building. They are responsible for removing the sewage, redirecting water flows using pumps, cementing the project site, and laying the curb. Usually, they provide the tools they need for projects. Groundworkers require basic numeracy because of the nature of their role. They must also be decisive and confident in the quality of their work. Most importantly, this job requires a high level of fitness for safe working in the location.

Parks maintenance worker vs ground worker salary

Parks maintenance workers and ground workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Parks Maintenance WorkerGround Worker
Average salary$31,627$29,875
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $39,000Between $24,000 And $37,000
Highest paying CityAnchorage, AKSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyAspen SnowmassMount St. Mary's University
Best paying industryStart-upGovernment

Differences between parks maintenance worker and ground worker education

There are a few differences between a parks maintenance worker and a ground worker in terms of educational background:

Parks Maintenance WorkerGround Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%High School Diploma, 38%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Parks maintenance worker vs ground worker demographics

Here are the differences between parks maintenance workers' and ground workers' demographics:

Parks Maintenance WorkerGround Worker
Average age4741
Gender ratioMale, 81.0% Female, 19.0%Male, 85.7% Female, 14.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 5.4% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.8% Asian, 2.1% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage2%3%

Differences between parks maintenance worker and ground worker duties and responsibilities

Parks maintenance worker example responsibilities.

  • Manage the turf grass by regular cutting, watering and fertilization and occasionally using chemicals to treat areas of weed outbreaks.
  • Used shovels, picks, and/or rakes to dig, chip, hack, or move dirt or other materials.
  • Can operate all motorize equipment such as blowers weed trimmer pruner edger mowers and all equipment associate with turf management.
  • Conduct routine building maintenance, including basic electrical and plumbing repairs.
  • Operate CDL dump, garbage and sweeper trucks.
  • Dot driver and help out work when need.
  • Show more

Ground worker example responsibilities.

  • Manage hardscape installation team and project
  • Operate vehicles and power equipment such as mowers, snow blowers, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
  • Aid in the maintenance of equipment as needed (lawn mowers, tractors, weed-eaters, leaf blowers, etc . )
  • Mow rough, greens, fairways, hand water greens, spread seed on greens and fairways, rake sand traps.
  • Used both hand shovels and plow trucks to remove snow.
  • Operate backhoe and bobcat to assist plumbing and irrigation dept.
  • Show more

Parks maintenance worker vs ground worker skills

Common parks maintenance worker skills
  • Mowing, 10%
  • GRASS, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 7%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Grounds Maintenance, 4%
  • General Maintenance, 4%
Common ground worker skills
  • Mowing, 12%
  • GRASS, 10%
  • Hand Tools, 9%
  • Grounds Maintenance, 8%
  • Blowers, 4%
  • Routine Maintenance, 4%

Browse installation, maintenance and repair jobs