Occupation · SOC 37-3019
Grounds Maintenance Workers, All Other
All grounds maintenance workers not listed separately.
Median wage
$43,410
$30,790–$76,090
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
13,580
Job Zone —
Core skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingTime ManagementMonitoringCoordinationSocial PerceptivenessService Orientation
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityAdministration and ManagementEducation and Training
Technology & tools
Web page creation and editing softwareData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail software
Representative tasks
Mix pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops.Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals, according to formulas.Operate shredding and chipping equipment, and feed limbs and brush into the machines.Operate boom trucks, loaders, stump chippers, brush chippers, tractors, power saws, trucks, sprayers, and other equipment and tools.Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment.Cut away dead and excess branches from trees, or clear branches around power lines, using climbing equipment or buckets of extended truck booms, or chainsaws, hooks, handsaws, shears, and clippers.Lift, push, and swing nozzles, hoses, and tubes to direct spray over designated areas.Identify lawn or plant diseases to determine the appropriate course of treatment.Hoist tools and equipment to tree trimmers, and lower branches with ropes or block and tackle.Cover areas to specified depths with pesticides, applying knowledge of weather conditions, droplet sizes, elevation-to-distance ratios, and obstructions.Start motors and engage machinery, such as sprayer agitators or pumps or portable spray equipment.Gather and remove litter.Climb trees, using climbing hooks and belts, or climb ladders to gain access to work areas.Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush trimmers, or axes.Supervise others engaged in tree trimming work and train lower-level employees.Connect hoses and nozzles selected according to terrain, distribution pattern requirements, types of infestations, and velocities.Trim, top, and reshape trees to achieve attractive shapes or to remove low-hanging branches.Inspect trees to determine if they have diseases or pest problems.Load debris and refuse onto trucks and haul it away for disposal.Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chainsaws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Basic grounds maintenance tasks — perform under direct supervision on residential or commercial properties following established work orders.Cleaning materials and supply labels — read and identify appropriate products for assigned surface types under guidance from a lead worker.Hand tools and basic landscaping equipment — operate safely on outdoor job sites after receiving orientation and hands-on demonstration.Daily task checklists — follow and complete in the correct sequence within a structured grounds maintenance schedule.Work area hazards — recognize and report to a supervisor on active job sites in compliance with public safety protocols.Completed maintenance tasks — communicate status verbally to a crew lead at the end of each shift on a multi-unit property.Room or outdoor area readiness — relay information to desk clerks or admitting personnel using clear, simple oral or written communication.Assigned grounds zones — monitor for litter, damage, or maintenance needs during routine walkthroughs under supervisory oversight.Time on assigned tasks — manage within scheduled shifts by following priority lists provided by a crew supervisor.Basic spreadsheet or email software — use to log completed tasks or report supply needs under direction from a site manager.
developing
Cleaning material selection — evaluate and choose the most suitable products for different flooring, furniture, and surface types with minimal supervisor input.In-house maintenance services — coordinate daily workflows across laundry, repair, or valet operations with reduced direct oversight on a commercial property.Grounds inspections — conduct routine walkthroughs to verify work meets established quality standards and flag deficiencies for correction.Equipment maintenance schedules — track and carry out preventive upkeep on landscaping tools and machinery across a mid-sized property.Room or area occupancy status — advise front-desk or admitting personnel promptly and accurately based on completed maintenance observations.Work assignments among peers — coordinate task distribution to balance workload effectively within a small grounds maintenance crew.Database or spreadsheet software — use to record maintenance logs, supply inventories, and work-order completions on a regular basis.Unexpected grounds or facility issues — apply critical thinking to identify root causes and implement immediate corrective actions within scope of authority.Customer or resident concerns — respond with service orientation and clear spoken communication to maintain satisfaction on managed properties.Safety and compliance standards — apply consistently across daily grounds operations, adapting protocols to site-specific conditions encountered on the job.
proficient
Full-scope grounds maintenance operations — manage autonomously across all service areas, including landscaping, repair coordination, and cleaning services on large commercial or institutional properties.Non-routine maintenance situations — diagnose, prioritize, and resolve independently using critical thinking and accumulated site knowledge.Work quality inspections — assess all crew outputs against detailed specifications and established standards, providing documented feedback and corrective guidance.Cleaning and maintenance material procurement — evaluate supplier options and select appropriate products to meet operational, safety, and budget requirements.In-house service departments — oversee laundry, valet, dry cleaning, and maintenance functions, ensuring service continuity and compliance with organizational standards.Occupancy readiness reporting — establish reliable communication systems with front-desk and admitting personnel to ensure accurate, timely room or area status updates.Office suite and presentation software — utilize to generate performance reports, maintenance summaries, and briefing materials for management review.Crew scheduling and time allocation — design efficient shift plans that align staffing levels with seasonal workload demands on multi-site properties.Safety and security protocols — implement and enforce across all grounds operations, adapting to emerging risks or regulatory changes proactively.Cross-functional coordination — lead collaboration between grounds staff and other facility departments to align maintenance activities with organizational priorities.
advanced
Organizational grounds maintenance strategy — develop and implement multi-year service plans aligned with facility goals, budgets, and regulatory requirements.Departmental standards and quality benchmarks — establish measurable inspection criteria and enforce them across all in-house maintenance, laundry, and valet services.Staff training and professional development — design and deliver structured onboarding and skill-building programs for grounds maintenance teams at all experience levels.Senior management and stakeholders — advise on facility condition, capital improvement needs, and service performance using data-driven presentations and reports.Vendor and contractor relationships — negotiate service agreements and evaluate contractor performance to ensure cost-effective, high-quality grounds outcomes.Technology systems for facilities management — select, implement, and oversee database and work-order platforms that improve operational tracking across multiple sites.Organizational safety culture — lead policy development and accountability measures that embed public safety and security standards into all grounds operations.Budget oversight for grounds services — plan, monitor, and reconcile departmental expenditures to optimize resource allocation across staffing, equipment, and supplies.Performance metrics and service audits — lead organization-wide reviews of maintenance outcomes, identifying systemic gaps and directing continuous improvement initiatives.Cross-departmental leadership — represent the grounds maintenance function at the executive level, integrating service priorities with broader facility and customer service objectives.
Also known as
16 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Attendant, CampgroundTrailhead Construction WorkerCampground AttendantCemetery WorkerTrail Maintenance WorkerRiverTree Trimmer HelperSpecial Effects and Instruction Models GardenerGarden WorkerGardener, Special Effects And Instruction ModelsDisease Control InspectorChimney SweeperTrail Construction WorkerWeed Control InspectorTrailhead Maintenance WorkerInsect Control Inspector