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Yard worker vs ground worker

The differences between yard workers and ground workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a yard worker and a ground worker. Additionally, a yard worker has an average salary of $32,628, which is higher than the $29,875 average annual salary of a ground worker.

The top three skills for a yard worker include OSHA, basic math and strong customer service. The most important skills for a ground worker are mowing, GRASS, and hand tools.

Yard worker vs ground worker overview

Yard WorkerGround Worker
Yearly salary$32,628$29,875
Hourly rate$15.69$14.36
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs63,40833,720
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 57%High School Diploma, 38%
Average age4141
Years of experience22

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.

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.

Yard worker vs ground worker salary

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

Yard WorkerGround Worker
Average salary$32,628$29,875
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $39,000Between $24,000 And $37,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsAlaska
Best paying companyRasmussen Co IncMount St. Mary's University
Best paying industryAutomotiveGovernment

Differences between yard worker and ground worker education

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

Yard WorkerGround Worker
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 57%High School Diploma, 38%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Yard worker vs ground worker demographics

Here are the differences between yard workers' and ground workers' demographics:

Yard WorkerGround Worker
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 91.7% Female, 8.3%Male, 85.7% Female, 14.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 2.0% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%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 Percentage3%3%

Differences between yard worker and ground worker duties and responsibilities

Yard worker example responsibilities.

  • 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.
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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.
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Yard worker vs ground worker skills

Common yard worker skills
  • OSHA, 17%
  • Basic Math, 15%
  • Strong Customer Service, 11%
  • Math, 11%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Safety Procedures, 8%
Common ground worker skills
  • Mowing, 12%
  • GRASS, 10%
  • Hand Tools, 9%
  • Grounds Maintenance, 8%
  • Blowers, 4%
  • Routine Maintenance, 4%

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