A first-line supervisor of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers leads teams that maintain outdoor spaces for homes, businesses, and properties. You manage schedules, coordinate crews, and solve problems on the job. Most supervisors hold a bachelor's degree and start in hands-on landscaping roles.
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You oversee landscaping crews and groundskeeping teams, scheduling their work and coordinating daily activities on job sites. You make decisions about how to approach projects, operate equipment when needed, and communicate with your team and management. You monitor quality and safety, gather information about client needs and site conditions, and handle the personnel side of managing workers. Your days involve both office work and time in the field, ensuring projects stay on track and teams work safely and efficiently.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers earn a median of $58,430 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 23,200 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most supervisors in this role earn a bachelor's degree, often in landscape management, horticulture, or business administration. Many start by working as landscaping or groundskeeping workers to learn the trade from the ground up. You'll develop skills in customer service, safety practices, and equipment operation through hands-on experience. Once you have field experience and education, you can move into a supervisory position where you lead crews and manage operations. Your path typically combines classroom learning with several years of practical work experience.
Your route usually starts with entry-level landscaping work and combines with a bachelor's degree in landscape management or a related field. If you're deciding between jumping into a degree program and building experience first, Pathly can map the first-line supervisor of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers path that fits you and work through the options with your counselor.
You do not need a license to work as a first-line supervisor of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You're drawn to leadership and business outcomes. You like coordinating people and resources, making decisions, and seeing measurable results. You communicate clearly and enjoy the responsibility of running operations.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).