🌿Careers

Landscaping

Lawn care, landscape design, hardscaping, and irrigation

$38k/yr median+4% growth (10-yr)171,600 openings/yrFast entry (<1 yr)

Wages & Job Outlook

$38k

Median wage

per year

$30k

Entry wage

per year

$54k

Top 10%

per year

172K

Annual openings

jobs per year

+4% projected job growth over 10 years — about average.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024) and Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024–34 projections.

Work-Life & Stability

Environment

outdoor

Overtime

seasonal

Physical demand

high

Travel

Travel typically required

Hazard level

Low hazard

Recession-resistant

Overview

Landscaping professionals design, install, and maintain outdoor spaces including lawns, gardens, irrigation systems, and hardscaping. The trade ranges from basic lawn mowing to complex landscape architecture.

Day in the Life

Spring and summer: mowing, mulching, planting, irrigation startups. Fall: cleanup, aeration, overseeding. Winter: snow removal in northern markets, planning and estimating. Daily route optimization is critical for profitability.

How to Get Started

On-the-Job Training

on-the-job

Most landscapers start as laborers and learn through hands-on experience

Duration: 1–3 yearsCost: Low / minimal tuition

Trade School / Vocational Program

trade-school

Horticulture and landscape technology programs at community colleges

Duration: 1–2 yearsCost: Moderate tuition

Certification-First

certification-first

NALP Certified Landscape Professional (CLP) designation boosts credibility

Duration: variesCost: Moderate tuition

Find local landscaping training near you

Programs, apprenticeship openings, and American Job Centers

Find training →

How to Pay for Your Training

Multiple funding programs can offset or eliminate the cost of training. Here are the most commonly applicable ones.

WIOA Individual Training Account (ITA)

Federally funded training voucher for eligible adults and dislocated workers. ITAs pay for approved programs at WIOA-eligible providers (ETPs). Amounts set by local Workforce Development Boards — typically $3,000–$12,000 per year depending on workforce area. Apply at your nearest American Job Center (CareerOneStop).

Up to $12,000

Apply →

Federal Pell Grant

Need-based federal grant up to $7,395/year for eligible students at accredited colleges and trade schools. Does not need to be repaid. Eligible programs include accredited community colleges, for-profit trade schools (UTI, Lincoln, etc.), and union training centers that are accredited institutions.

Up to $7,395

Apply →

Workforce Pell Grant (SAVES Act)

Starting July 1, 2026, Pell Grant eligibility expands to high-quality short-term workforce programs (8–15 weeks) at eligible institutions. For the first time, trade training programs under 600 hours are Pell-eligible — including many HVAC, electrical, and welding certificates. Students earn the same need-based amount as longer programs.

Up to $7,395

Apply →

GI Bill (Post-9/11, Chapter 33) — Apprenticeship

Post-9/11 GI Bill covers On-the-Job Training (OJT) and Registered Apprenticeship programs. Veterans receive a monthly housing allowance (MHA, based on E-5 w/dependents BAH at program location) that scales up as they advance through the apprenticeship. Covers full 3–5 year apprenticeship programs.

Up to $3,200

Apply →

See all programs you may qualify for →

Career Ladder

Landscape Laborer

$30k/yr

0–1 yrs exp.

Mows, trims, hauls debris under direction

Landscape Technician

$38k/yr

1–3 yrs exp.

Operates equipment, handles installs with guidance

Lead Landscaper

$48k/yr

3–7 yrs exp.

Leads small crews, handles client interactions

Landscape Foreman

$58k/yr

5+ yrs exp.

Manages multiple crews and job sites

Landscape Contractor

$75k/yr

5+ yrs exp.

Owns landscape company, handles sales and operations

Licensing by State

State	Required?	License type	Issuing body
CA	Yes	C-27 Landscaping Contractor	CSLB (Contractors State License Board)
TX	Yes	Landscape Irrigator (LI) / Irrigation Technician (IT)	TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality)
FL	No	Irrigation Specialty Contractor (voluntary state cert)	Florida DBPR / CILB
NY	No	–	–
IL	Yes	Irrigation Contractor Registration (lawn sprinkler systems)	IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health), Plumbing Program
PA	Yes	Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration	PA Office of Attorney General (HICPA)
OH	No	–	–
GA	Yes	Low-Voltage Electrician License (Class LV-A/LV-N) for irrigation install	Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board / GA Secretary of State
NC	Yes	Landscape Contractor License	NCLCLB (NC Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board)
MI	No	–	–
WA	Yes	Registered Specialty Contractor (Landscaping)	Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)
AZ	Yes	C-21 / CR-21 / R-21 Landscaping & Irrigation Systems	AZ ROC (Arizona Registrar of Contractors)
VA	Yes	Contractor License (Class A/B/C) + Landscape Irrigation Specialty (ISC)	Virginia DPOR (Board for Contractors)
NJ	Yes	Landscape Irrigation Contractor Certification (+ HIC Registration)	NJ Dept of Community Affairs - Board of Landscape Irrigation Contractors (LIC) / NJ Div. of Consumer Affairs (HIC)
TN	Yes	Contractor License - CMC-D (Landscaping) classification	TBLC (Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors)

Time to Enter

Time to journeyman1 yr

Fast-entry trade — earning wages in <1 year possible

Wages (BLS 2024)

Entry (10th pct)$30k

Median$38k

Top 10%$54k

BLS OEWS May 2024. Wages vary by state and employer.

Compare all trades side-by-side →Find training funding →

Own a landscaping business?

Verified · 2 sources

What it's worth today — the starting point for weighing any exit.

First Page Sage

PE / strategic buyer

3.63×–12.2×

× EBITDA

Peak Business Valuation

Appraisal / small business

2.76×–3.21×

× SDE

The two lenses differ on purpose: PE / strategic buyers pay a multiple of EBITDA (management-run, platform-scale), while an appraisal / small-business value is a multiple of SDE (owner-operated). Most trades land between the two.

Full valuation breakdown →Explore exit paths →