Occupation · SOC 37-1012
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in landscaping or groundskeeping activities. Work may involve reviewing contracts to ascertain service, machine, and workforce requirements; answering inquiries from potential customers regarding methods, material, and price ranges; and preparing estimates according to labor, material, and machine costs.
Median wage
$56,170
$39,270–$83,080
Projected growth
+2.4%
Slower than average
Annual openings
520
per year
Employed (US)
124,130
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
296 mapped
Core skills
Time ManagementMonitoringManagement of Personnel ResourcesActive ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingCoordinationSocial PerceptivenessJudgment and Decision MakingInstructingService OrientationReading ComprehensionQuality Control AnalysisPersuasionLearning StrategiesComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningWritingOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisNegotiationMathematicsManagement of Material ResourcesTroubleshootingManagement of Financial ResourcesEquipment SelectionEquipment MaintenanceRepairingOperations AnalysisTechnology DesignScienceProgrammingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementMathematicsPublic Safety and SecurityPersonnel and Human ResourcesMechanicalEducation and TrainingChemistryBuilding and ConstructionDesignAdministrativeComputers and ElectronicsBiologyPsychologyLaw and GovernmentGeographyProduction and ProcessingEngineering and TechnologyTransportationEconomics and AccountingForeign LanguagePhysicsTelecommunicationsSales and MarketingCommunications and MediaSociology and AnthropologyTherapy and CounselingMedicine and DentistryPhilosophy and TheologyHistory and ArcheologyFood ProductionFine Arts
Technology & tools
FacebookInventory management softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordPayroll softwareWork order software
Representative tasks
Scheduling Work and ActivitiesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesGetting InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsDocumenting/Recording InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDeveloping and Building TeamsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsCoaching and Developing OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleTraining and Teaching OthersEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicProcessing InformationThinking CreativelyCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationStaffing Organizational UnitsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersControlling Machines and ProcessesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentPerforming Administrative ActivitiesWorking with ComputersAnalyzing Data or InformationSelling or Influencing Others
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Safety procedures and work standards — recognize and follow under direct supervisor guidance on a commercial landscaping crew.Daily crew schedules — assist in reviewing and communicating to team members based on task priority lists provided by a supervisor.Grounds conditions such as soil health and plant vitality — observe and document during supervised tours of parks, cemeteries, or golf courses.Basic landscaping tasks including mowing, mulching, and watering — perform with minimal oversight on assigned residential or commercial sites.Verbal instructions from supervisors — receive and relay accurately to crew members during routine groundskeeping operations.Fertilizer and pesticide mixing procedures — follow labeled protocols under direct supervision on maintained turf or garden areas.Completed landscaping work — compare against basic specifications checklists under the guidance of an experienced supervisor.Spreadsheet and office suite software — enter time, inventory, and task data as directed for landscaping crew operations.Equipment availability and readiness — check and report to a supervisor before daily field assignments begin.Customer and safety concerns — identify and escalate to a supervisor promptly during grounds maintenance activities.
developing
Crew work schedules — coordinate and adjust based on weather conditions, equipment availability, and shifting project priorities on municipal or private grounds.Operating procedures and safety standards — communicate and reinforce consistently to a small landscaping crew with reduced supervisory oversight.Plant and soil conditions — assess during routine grounds tours and recommend corrective actions such as aeration, irrigation adjustment, or pest treatment.Fertilizer, herbicide, and insecticide applications — direct crew mixing and application activities in compliance with label requirements and site contracts.Project timelines and task deadlines — monitor progress across active landscaping jobs and redirect crew effort when milestones are at risk.Tree trimming, shrub pruning, and turf care — perform and demonstrate correct techniques to crew members during on-site training situations.Completed work quality — inspect against contract specifications and provide corrective feedback to workers on commercial or institutional grounds.Inventory management software — track supply levels of fertilizers, chemicals, and equipment parts to ensure continuous field operations.Conflict or performance issues within a crew — address using active listening and clear communication to maintain cooperation on a job site.Work instructions and safety data sheets — read and interpret accurately to ensure proper crew execution of chemical application tasks.
proficient
Comprehensive operating procedures and safety protocols — establish, document, and enforce autonomously across multiple crews on large commercial or institutional grounds contracts.Complex crew scheduling scenarios — resolve independently by balancing personnel availability, equipment capacity, and weather disruptions across concurrent landscaping projects.Full grounds inspection tours — conduct across diverse environments such as botanical gardens, golf courses, and cemetery properties, identifying agronomic and aesthetic deficiencies.Non-routine pest, disease, or soil problems — diagnose through critical thinking and direct targeted chemical or cultural treatment programs without escalation.Mixed-skill crews of landscaping and groundskeeping workers — direct, instruct, and evaluate to achieve consistent performance on complex maintenance and installation projects.Contract compliance and quality assurance — verify through systematic inspection of finished work, resolving discrepancies directly with clients or project managers.Training plans for new and developing crew members — design and deliver using varied instructional strategies tailored to hands-on outdoor learning environments.Time accounting and database software — use proficiently to generate accurate labor, cost, and project status reports for management review.Irrigation system performance and water management needs — assess and coordinate corrective maintenance to sustain healthy turf and plantings on managed properties.Customer service interactions and site-specific requirements — manage independently, translating client expectations into precise crew task assignments and measurable quality outcomes.
advanced
Organizational safety culture and operating standards — set policy-level direction that governs all landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping crews across an enterprise or large public agency.Strategic workforce planning — lead hiring, deployment, and development of supervisory and crew personnel to sustain operational capacity across seasonal demand cycles.Long-range grounds maintenance programs — design for complex facilities such as large park systems or campuses, integrating sustainability, budget, and horticultural best practices.Departmental performance metrics and continuous improvement initiatives — establish, measure, and refine to elevate service quality and cost-effectiveness across all maintained sites.Cross-functional coordination with engineering, administration, and public safety teams — lead to align grounds operations with broader facility or municipal management goals.Vendor and contract relationships — negotiate and manage to secure favorable terms for chemicals, equipment, and subcontracted landscaping services at organizational scale.Advanced chemical and integrated pest management programs — authorize and oversee organization-wide, ensuring regulatory compliance and environmental stewardship across all properties.Technology adoption decisions including inventory, scheduling, and reporting software — evaluate and champion to modernize operational workflows for all supervisory and field staff.Mentorship and succession planning for emerging supervisors — lead through structured coaching, performance feedback, and tailored learning strategies within a grounds management career pathway.Organizational response to crisis conditions such as storm damage, drought, or disease outbreaks — direct resource reallocation and communications to protect grounds assets and maintain service continuity.
Also known as
44 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Arborist Crew LeaderBuildings and Grounds SupervisorCemetery Workers SupervisorEnhancement ManagerField ManagerGardening ManagerGardening SupervisorGolf Course ManagerGolf Course SuperintendentGreens SuperintendentGreenskeeper SupervisorGrounds Crew SupervisorGrounds ForemanGrounds Maintenance SupervisorGrounds ManagerGrounds SuperintendentGrounds SupervisorGroundskeeper SupervisorHorticultural Services SupervisorJunior Landscape Crew LeaderLandscape Account ManagerLandscape Construction ForemanLandscape Crew LeaderLandscape ForemanLandscape Installation ForemanLandscape Maintenance ForemanLandscape Maintenance ManagerLandscape ManagerLandscape Market ManagerLandscape Project Manager (Landscape PM)Landscape SupervisorLandscaping Crew LeaderLandscaping ForemanLandscaping ManagerLandscaping SupervisorLawn and Tree Service Spray SupervisorLawn Services ManagerLawn Services SupervisorNursery SupervisorPark Supervisor