It Varies by Region and Services Provided
Landscapers have a variety of roles. Clients can hire them to maintain a yard or landscape or install irrigation systems. Landscapers may also specialize in one type of work, like installing outdoor kitchens or fountains. This article will discuss how much landscapers make and the factors influencing their salary.
Landscaping Can Be a Rewarding & Lucrative Career
Even though it’s a job requiring physical labor hours and heavy lifting, job satisfaction rates for landscaping are high. The national average as of October 2022 for landscape professionals was $32,049 per year.
A landscaper can earn money in several ways, including hourly wages and commissions. A landscaper can bill as many hours as they want. They also get bonuses for completing projects quickly and efficiently. If the job involves tasks beyond what’s typical for the standard job description, then they stand to earn even more.
How To Earn a Steady Income as a Landscaper
To become a landscaper, one requires proper training to attain the necessary skills. Secondly, independent contractors will require a license to operate as landscapers.
As a beginner, one can first seek to work with or under an experienced landscaper from where they can build up their skills and networks. Becoming an expert in at least one area of landscaping is advisable.
It then becomes easier to earn more money by offering higher-end services such as pruning, planting trees and shrubs, or designing and drafting schematics.
How Much Do Landscapers Make – Type of Service Provided
Landscaper salaries greatly vary depending on the type and extent of service provided. Here is a complete breakdown:
Design Services
Landscape architects and designers are responsible for the overall design of a landscape. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a landscape architect earns an average salary of $67,950 annually.
Construction Services
Landscape construction is one of the most popular career choices in landscaping. The BLS notes that it’s also one of the fastest-growing careers in this industry. Landscape construction workers are responsible for building outdoor structures such as patios, decks, and retaining walls. The average annual salary for this position is $58,771.
Landscape Maintenance
A landscape maintenance specialist is responsible for maintaining existing landscapes. They perform tasks such as pruning trees and shrubs, fertilizing plants, and replacing dead plants with new ones. According to the BLS, the average annual salary for this position is $39,910.
Lawn Care Services
Like other landscaping professionals, lawn care service workers primarily focus on flower beds and lawns rather than foliage or gardens. They often work with homeowners who want to maintain their lawns at affordable rates. The average annual salary for this position is $37,776.
How Much Do Landscapers Make – Commercial vs. Residential
Commercial and residential landscapers do not earn the same salaries because their duties vary significantly. Commercial landscapers are responsible for maintaining large properties such as parks and golf courses, while residential landscapers maintain smaller properties like front yards and backyards.
What Is Commercial Landscaping?
Commercial landscaping refers to the maintenance and beautification of large properties such as parks, schools, shopping centers, office buildings, and government properties.
Businesses hire commercial landscaping companies to maintain their outdoor spaces, including parking lots and walkways.
How Much Do Commercial Landscapers Make?
A survey conducted by Indeed found that the average landscaper salary for the commercial sector varies between $30,000 and $117,261 a year.
How Big Are the Properties of Commercial Landscapers?
Commercial landscapers may work on large properties with hundreds or even thousands of trees and plants that need regular care and maintenance. They typically work between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
What Is Residential Landscaping?
Residential landscaping involves designing and maintaining residential gardens, lawns, and home exteriors.
It includes planting trees, shrubs, and flowers and mowing, watering, and fertilizing them. Residential landscapers also often install irrigation systems, decks, patios, and other features.
How Much Do Residential Landscapers Make?
The average hourly salary for a residential landscaper is $50 to $100. The type of projects one takes will determine their income. Suppose one works on small lawns or flower beds in urban areas where labor costs are higher than in rural areas. In that case, one can earn more money as a residential landscaper than someone who works on larger properties out in the country.
How Big Are the Properties of Residential Landscapers?
The average size of a residential landscaper’s job is a 1,000-square-foot lawn. Smaller yards may only require hand tools, such as shovels and rakes. Larger properties might require machinery such as tractors for lawn mowing.
How Much Do Landscapers Make by Region
Beyond the factors already discussed, landscaper salary varies by region and state. Here is a quick overview:
The Northeast
The Northeast United States region comprises Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, and New Jersey among others.
The states in this region have warm summers and cold winters. They have a variety of climates and landscapes, including mountains, plains, and forests. The median annual landscaper salary in this region is $29,500.
The West
The West region of the United States comprises Arizona, Colorado, California, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico, Washington, and Oregon.
This region has warm summers and cold winters, with some areas experiencing extreme heat during the summer months. The median annual pay for landscapers in this region is $32,000.
The Midwest
The Midwest region of the United States comprises Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Michigan Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. This region has warm summers and cold winters, with some areas experiencing extreme heat during the summer months. The median annual pay for landscapers in this region is $31,000.
The South
The South is home to some of the highest-earning landscapers in the country. Most of the best states for landscaping wages belong to this region.
The highest-paying state in the South is North Carolina, where a professional landscaper can expect an annual salary of $28,500 per year. This is slightly higher than the $28,000 average pay next door in South Carolina. Louisiana ranks have an annual salary of $29,000, while landscapers in Alabama state earn an average wage of $25 956 a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the landscaping profession.
How much do landscapers earn in the USA?
The average salary of a landscaper is $15.4/hr. This amount can vary depending on where one lives and what kind of work one does. It is possible to make a very good living as a landscaper, but it takes time and patience.
Do Landscapers Get Tips?
In some cases, landscapers do receive tips. That said, if you’re pricing out jobs, landscapers shouldn’t rely on tips as part of your income as they can be irregular and shouldn’t be considered part of your guaranteed income stream.
Can one make money as a landscaper?
Yes. Landscapers can be very successful if they have the right skills and experience. To make money as a landscape foreman, one needs to know how to design landscapes that look good and are easy for homeowners to maintain. It’s also helpful to know about different types of plants and how to grow and nurture them.
Where is the best place to be a landscaper?
In some states, there are more jobs than in others. The best places to start a landscaping career include Nevada, Texas, California, and Florida. These states have climates that allow people to grow plants all year long. So, jobs are always available in these states, even when other parts of the country are experiencing droughts or extreme temperatures that can kill plants.
Is landscape design a good career?
Landscape design is an exciting, creative, and rewarding profession. As a landscape designer, one can work with diverse clients, from homeowners to commercial entities. They can also explore residential, commercial, institutional, and natural landscapes.
Landscape designers use their knowledge of plants and design principles to create outdoor environments that work well for people. They help clients implement those plans in each landscaping project using innovative ideas and materials.
Landscape designers are involved in many aspects of the design process, from concept development to construction administration. A career in landscape design allows one to develop skills in technical and artistic areas. It also provides opportunities for advancement into management positions where one can supervise other designers or construction crews on large projects.
Is starting a landscape business worth it?
Starting a landscaping business can be difficult and risky, but it may be worth considering if one enjoys working outdoors and has experience with plants and soil. Just to landscaping company up and running, you have to count on equipment and supplies of at least $5,000. That isn’t the only startup cost you’ll encounter.
A startup landscaping cost that many overlook is marketing. You should expect to spend at least another $10,000 on marketing alone during the first year of operation. Marketing is essential to get your business off the ground. When you’re starting out, no one is familiar with your landscaping services. You won’t be able to get a single landscaping job if no one knows who you are. This makes effective marketing vital to your success.
Landscaping can be a great way to earn money and provide for one’s family. The best part about it all? One doesn’t need to get a degree! Anyone interested can take some classes at their local community college, find some jobs in their area, and start working as soon as possible.
How profitable is a lawn care business?
According to the National Lawn Care Institute, lawn care is a $105.1 billion industry. It is possible to start a lawn care business for under $10,000. Start-up landscaping costs are low because there is no need for any special equipment to get started – just regular maintenance tools like rakes and shovels. If you’re providing lawn mowing services, you’ll obviously need a dependable lawn mower as well.
And if one is willing to work hard and learn from their mistakes, one can make a good living in this business. The key is to get started with the right skills and keep up with all the latest innovations in lawn care technology.
