What Do American Lawn Care Workers Get Paid?
Believe it or not, there are people out there paying close attention to what American lawn and garden employees are getting paid. The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics does its homework on US lawn maintenance employees, and finds that, as of 2011, the average lawn care worker made about $25,650 per year, or $12.33 an hour. The Bureau projects that a quarter of a million jobs will be added to this industry by 2020. They also note that there is a lot of variation in worker pay, depending on job and location.
Here are some of the details about who's making the most, and why. Check out where your company fits into the national picture:
People who work on government- and school-owned lawns were the highest paid. These employees saw higher pay than those who worked for private contractors. The Northeast and Pacific coast had the highest paid lawn care workers while workers in the South were some of the lowest paid. Employees who specialized in skills like pesticide application were better paid than those with more general skills like lawn mowing. The average pesticide specialist was paid $31,690 per year, or $15.85 per hour. Some reported rates as high as $17.83 per hour. Trimmers and pruners were the highest paid of all, earning $32,970 per year or $15.85 per hour. A high portion of those polled received $18.74 an hour, or more.
The reason that the government projects fast growth for lawn care jobs is that cities are planting more and more trees, gardens, and green spaces. With vegetation becoming a priority in what used to be concrete jungles, urban lawn care companies will be more necessary than ever. Other factors include America's aging population, as retired Baby Boomers will need more help maintaining their lawns and gardens in the coming years.
For a nation in need of jobs, it's encouraging to know that the lawn care/lawn maintenance industry is only going to need more workers. If you've got a lawn company, it's important to know not only what other people are paying their employees, but where the emerging lawn markets are. At Wright, we're committed to providing the best mowing equipment that money can buy. We're here for the long haul, and we want your company to have the Wright edge as times change.
