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What does a yard worker do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
What does a yard worker do

A yard worker provides landscape maintenance services to homes and establishments. Their responsibilities typically include meeting with clients to identify their needs and landscape preferences, mowing lawns, growing plants and trees, applying pesticides and fertilizers, operating irrigation systems, and maintaining grounds clean and presentable. There are also instances when a yard worker may participate in installing fixtures such as ponds, topiaries, lighting, Christmas ornaments, and other decorations in adherence to the directives of clients or management.

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Yard worker responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real yard worker resumes:

  • Used mowers, weed whackers/trimmers and rakes to maintain yards
  • Used forklifts and bucket loaders to load and unload purchase products and materials.
  • Obtain CDL license and deliver lumber and other home building hardware to various contractors.
  • Work in yard stock shelfs deliverd materials run fork lift drive boom truck and flat bed
  • Unload and load rolls of paper, operate cranes, drive trucks around the yard.
  • Operate bobcat and mini excavator to prepare area for sidewalk construction, drain installation, and cleanup.
  • Stock pallets of merchandise into their designate areas, indoors and outdoors, individually or within a group.
  • Skil in trimming trees and bushes, blowing yards and mowing lawns and in the intense Arizona summer heat.
  • Cut and separate metal, operate cranes, forklift, bobcat, etc, lift heavy objects, etc.
  • Stack cargo in locations such as transit sheds or in holds of ships as directed, using pallets or cargo boards.
  • Used shrink wrap, hand lifts, pallet jacks, dollies, and warehouse platform lifts.
  • Work for a company name Grainger through Adecco assisting with a security detail during the pope's visit to Philadelphia.

Yard worker skills and personality traits

We calculated that 17% of Yard Workers are proficient in OSHA, Basic Math, and Strong Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Hand-eye coordination, Physical strength, and Customer-service skills.

We break down the percentage of Yard Workers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • OSHA, 17%

    Complied with all regulatory requirements and company policies such as OSHA, health and safety and lawn maintenance.

  • Basic Math, 15%

    Worked with measurements, basic mathematics, weight distribution and coordination of loading.

  • Strong Customer Service, 11%

    Loaded/unloaded trucks using forklifts and telehandler boom lift Maintained cleanliness of the facility Developed strong customer service skills

  • Math, 11%

    Make sure all materials are in good condition and accounted for by using math skills.

  • Customer Service, 11%

    Improved customer service and increased commercial and residential customers as a result of exceptional customer service and bilingual skills.

  • Safety Procedures, 8%

    Followed standard operating and safety procedures in fork lift operation.

Most yard workers use their skills in "osha," "basic math," and "strong customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential yard worker responsibilities here:

Physical strength. Another essential skill to perform yard worker duties is physical strength. Yard workers responsibilities require that "these workers may need to be able to lift heavy equipment or supplies." Yard workers also use physical strength in their role according to a real resume snippet: "required physical strength and knowledge of operating excavators, skid steers, forklifts, loaders and tractors. "

Communication skills. yard worker responsibilities often require "communication skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "grounds maintenance workers must be able to convey information and instructions to clients, customers, and supervisors." This resume example shows what yard workers do with communication skills on a typical day: "skilled in customer service and communication skills required to meet customer specifications for landscaping jobs. "

All yard worker skills

The three companies that hire the most yard workers are:

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Compare different yard workers

Yard worker vs. Groundsman

Groundsmen or greenkeepers are professionals who take responsibility for the maintenance of materials and equipment. They make certain to provide enough stock of consumables. Part of their responsibilities is to make sure that the grounds, flowers, lawns, and shrubs are kept from plant diseases and harmful insects. They are also responsible for looking after the sports grounds, including bowling greens, racecourses, tennis courts, rugby pitches, and football fields.

If we compare the average yard worker annual salary with that of a groundsman, we find that groundsmen typically earn a $385 higher salary than yard workers make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both yard worker and groundsman positions are skilled in cdl, mowing, and bobcat.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, yard worker responsibilities require skills like "osha," "basic math," "strong customer service," and "math." Meanwhile a typical groundsman has skills in areas such as "hand tools," "blowers," "construction sites," and "bucket truck." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Groundsmen tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $36,622. In contrast, yard workers make the biggest average salary, $33,845, in the automotive industry.The education levels that groundsmen earn slightly differ from yard workers. In particular, groundsmen are 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a yard worker. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Yard worker vs. Landscape labour

When it comes to landscape labor, one of the primary responsibilities is to perform landscape support tasks such as trimming the lawn, digging holes, planting flowers and trees, placing garden designs, and installing devices such as sprinkler systems. The majority of the tasks require physical work; there are instances where they must create structures such as ponds, fences, borders, patios, and other outdoor features. Furthermore, most of the tasks are in a group setting, which is why it is essential to coordinate with team members and adhere to the directives of supervisors or clients.

Landscape labour positions earn lower pay than yard worker roles. They earn a $3,581 lower salary than yard workers per year.A few skills overlap for yard workers and landscape labours. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "mowing," "physical labor," and "bobcat. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, yard worker responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "osha," "basic math," "strong customer service," and "math." Meanwhile, a landscape labour has duties that require skills in areas such as "grass," "hand tools," "mow lawns," and "blowers." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Landscape labours may earn a lower salary than yard workers, but landscape labours earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $29,929. On the other hand, yard workers receive higher pay in the automotive industry, where they earn an average salary of $33,845.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Landscape labours tend to reach similar levels of education than yard workers. In fact, they're 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Yard worker vs. 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. In addition, an irrigation technician may be required to travel to the client's location to install, test, or perform preventative maintenance of irrigation equipment. You are also expected to dig trenches and install lines and pipes and troubleshoot and replace faulty parts.

An average irrigation technician eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of yard workers. The difference in salaries amounts to irrigation technicians earning a $2,844 higher average salary than yard workers.yard workers and irrigation technicians both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "customer service," "mowing," and "manual labor," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from yard worker resumes include skills like "osha," "basic math," "strong customer service," and "math," whereas an irrigation technician is more likely to list skills in "golf courses," "trenchers," "sprinkler heads," and "taking care. "

Irrigation technicians make a very good living in the construction industry with an average annual salary of $35,738. On the other hand, yard workers are paid the highest salary in the automotive industry, with average annual pay of $33,845.irrigation technicians typically earn similar educational levels compared to yard workers. Specifically, they're 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Yard worker vs. Lawn technician

Lawn technicians tend to earn a lower pay than yard workers by an average of $268 per year.While their salaries may vary, yard workers and lawn technicians both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "safety procedures," "mowing," and "rakes. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between yard workers and lawn technicians, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a yard worker might have more use for skills like "osha," "basic math," "strong customer service," and "math." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of lawn technicians require skills like "quality customer service," "weed control," "fertilize lawns," and "pest control. "

In general, lawn technicians earn the most working in the construction industry, with an average salary of $33,766. The highest-paying industry for a yard worker is the automotive industry.The average resume of lawn technicians showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to yard workers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.

Types of yard worker

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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