What is the Average Landscaper Salary & How Can You Increase It?

The average landscaper in the U.S. earns around $37,000–$38,000 per year, though pay varies by experience, location, and specialization. Entry-level workers often start in the low $30Ks, while seasoned pros and specialists like arborists or irrigation experts can earn $50K or more. Salaries are higher in states with steep living costs, like California ($42K), and slightly lower in states like Texas and Florida ($34K–$36K). To increase salaries and attract top talent, landscaping businesses can reinvest profits into competitive pay, offer benefits, provide training and certification opportunities, and use systems that boost efficiency and margins, allowing them to pay staff more without cutting into profitability.

As a landscaping business owner, understanding the average landscaper salary is crucial. Not only does it help you attract and retain top talent, but it also ensures your business remains competitive in a dynamic industry. In this comprehensive guide, we'll dive into the factors that influence landscaper salaries, explore salary trends by state, and provide strategies for boosting earnings and business growth. Let’s get started!

What is the national average salary for landscapers in the U.S.?

The national average salary for landscapers in the United States is approximately $31,000 per year. However, this figure can vary significantly based on several factors, such as experience, location, and specialization. As a business owner, understanding these nuances can help you structure competitive salary packages and attract skilled landscapers to your team.

Benchmarking Against National Figures

Benchmarking your landscaper salaries against national figures is an essential step in ensuring your compensation packages are competitive. By doing so, you can identify whether you're offering wages that attract the best talent or if you need to adjust your pay scales to meet industry standards.

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What factors influence a landscaper’s salary?

Experience Level

Experience plays a significant role in determining landscaper salaries. Entry-level landscapers typically earn less than those with several years of experience. However, experienced landscapers bring valuable skills and knowledge to your business, which can enhance the quality of your services and customer satisfaction.

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Strategies for Rewarding and Retaining Experienced Staff

To retain experienced landscapers, consider offering competitive salaries, performance bonuses, and opportunities for career advancement. Additionally, recognizing their contributions through awards or special incentives can boost morale and loyalty.

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READ MORE: How Do You Determine Your Landscaping Hourly Rate?

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Geographic Location

Geographic location is another critical factor influencing landscaper salaries. Salaries can vary widely from state to state and even between cities within the same state. Typically, regions with higher living costs offer higher salaries to compensate for the increased expenses.

If your company operates across multiple states, tools like SiteRecon help standardize your estimating process. That means whether your team is bidding in Texas, California, or Florida, you can keep margins consistent even when labor costs vary, giving you room to offer competitive salaries without sacrificing profitability.

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Adjusting Pay Scales for Local Cost of Living

When setting salaries, consider the cost of living in your area. Offering competitive wages that reflect local living costs can help you attract and retain top talent. For example, landscapers in metropolitan areas or regions with a year-round growing season may expect higher wages compared to those in rural areas or regions with harsh winters.

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Specialization

Landscapers who specialize in certain areas, such as irrigation systems, landscape design, or horticulture, often command higher salaries. For example, arborists average around $50,000 annually, while horticulturists can earn $70,000+ thanks to their specialized expertise. These specialized skills are in demand and usually require additional training or certification.

Specialized services like irrigation or enhancements deserve specialized estimating. With a landscape mapping software, landscapers can layer service-specific data directly on the property map, so you can confidently price those higher-value jobs. This not only supports paying specialists more but also justifies premium pricing with clients.

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Offering Training and Development Opportunities

Investing in your employees' education can pay off significantly. By providing training and development opportunities, you can help your staff gain specialized skills that not only benefit them personally but also enhance the services your business offers. This can lead to higher customer satisfaction and potentially higher revenue.

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Company Size

The size of your company can also impact landscaper salaries. Larger firms often have more resources to offer higher wages and benefits compared to smaller, local businesses. However, smaller companies can compete by offering a close-knit work environment and opportunities for rapid career advancement.

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Benefits and Compensation Packages

In addition to competitive salaries, consider offering comprehensive benefits packages that include health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. These perks can make your business more attractive to potential employees and help you retain your current staff.

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How much do landscapers earn in different states?

Understanding salary trends in different states can help you make informed decisions about your pay scales. Let’s explore the average landscaper salaries in a few key states:

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California

In California, landscapers earn an average of $42,000 per year. The higher salaries in this state reflect the high cost of living, especially in metropolitan areas like Los Angeles and San Francisco.

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Considerations for California Business Owners

If you operate in California, offering competitive salaries is essential. Additionally, providing benefits like transportation allowances or housing stipends can make your compensation packages more attractive.

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Texas

In Texas, the average landscaper salary is around $34,000–$35,000 annually, which is slightly below the national average. However, the cost of living in Texas is generally lower than in states like California, which can balance out the lower wages.

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Considerations for Texas Business Owners

Texas business owners can attract talent by offering flexible work schedules, professional development opportunities, and performance bonuses. Highlighting the lower cost of living in Texas can also be a selling point when recruiting from out of state.

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Florida

Florida landscapers make about $33,000–$36,000 per year. The state's long growing season provides consistent work opportunities, which can be a significant advantage.

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Considerations for Florida Business Owners

To stand out in the competitive Florida market, consider offering year-round employment, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career advancement. Emphasizing the state's pleasant climate and abundant outdoor work can also attract potential employees.

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READ MORE: How to get 100 lawn care customers in 3 months

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What is the job outlook for landscapers in the U.S.?

The demand for skilled landscapers is expected to grow in the coming years. Homeowners and businesses are increasingly investing in their outdoor spaces, creating a steady demand for landscaping services. Additionally, the emphasis on sustainable and eco-friendly landscaping practices is opening up new opportunities within the industry.

Projected Growth in Demand

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in landscaping is projected to grow about 5% from 2023 to 2033, roughly average across occupations. This growth is driven by the increasing popularity of outdoor living spaces and the ongoing need for maintenance of commercial and residential properties.

Emerging Trends in Landscaping

Staying ahead of industry trends can give your business a competitive edge. Some of the emerging trends in landscaping include:

• Sustainable Practices: Eco-friendly landscaping techniques, such as xeriscaping and the use of native plants, are becoming increasingly popular. These practices not only benefit the environment but can also reduce maintenance costs for your clients.‍
• Outdoor Living Spaces: Homeowners are investing more in outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and entertainment areas. Offering design and installation services for these features can expand your business.‍
• Technology Integration: Incorporating technology, such as automated irrigation systems and landscape lighting, can enhance the services you offer and attract tech-savvy clients. However, technology integration isn’t just about smart irrigation systems, it’s also about smarter business systems. Tools like SiteRecon are helping landscaping companies eliminate guesswork in takeoffs and estimates, giving them the margins they need to raise wages while still staying profitable.

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How can landscaping businesses increase salaries and drive growth?

Paying higher salaries without hurting profitability requires more than just increasing rates, it demands smarter systems that grow both revenue and efficiency. Here are proven strategies landscaping companies can use:

1. Price with Precision, Not Guesswork

Too many landscaping businesses rely on rough numbers or gut feel when bidding. This often leads to underpricing, thin margins, and limited room to raise wages. With the SiteRecon Estimator, you can build production-rate driven estimates directly on the property map. When every line item is tied to labor hours and material costs, your bids protect profitability. Stronger margins mean you can confidently offer competitive pay and retain top talent.

2. Unlock New Revenue Through Enhancements

Enhancement projects — seasonal plantings, irrigation upgrades, site improvements, are some of the highest-margin services in landscaping. The Plato mobile app makes it easy for account managers and field teams to document opportunities on site with photos, notes, and instant reports. When you consistently surface enhancement opportunities, you create new revenue streams that can be reinvested into salaries without stretching maintenance budgets.

3. Reduce Rework and Hidden Costs

Employee frustration and margin erosion often come from mistakes, underestimating a job, misallocating crews, or missing client expectations. Each error drains resources that could have gone into better pay. By standardizing estimating and using digital site audits, you minimize rework, protect margins, and keep your payroll budget healthier.

4. Scale Crews with Confidence

Hiring more crews doesn’t always translate into more profit, unless you have systems to manage growth. Standardized estimating, consistent site inspections, and data-driven job costing allow you to scale beyond a few crews without chaos. When your growth is systematic instead of reactive, you create the financial headroom needed to steadily raise wages.

5. Position Pay as Part of a Growth Story

Employees are more motivated when they see their pay tied directly to company growth. Show your team how accurate estimates, upsold enhancements, and efficient job execution drive higher margins, and how those margins enable raises, bonuses, and career progression. This not only boosts retention but also turns salary increases into a shared mission.

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How can landscaping companies scale beyond a small crew?

A lot of landscaping pros struggle with growing their business. When you are running with a two to three man crew with limited equipment, while you’re not making millions, but you’re making enough and things are manageable.

However, many landscaping pros realize that as soon as you hire more crews and buy more equipment, managing the business starts becoming difficult. There’s just too much to organize, oversee, and do.

This is when you need a systematic approach to grow your business. Watch SiteRecon’s FREE Landscaping Sales Masterclass to organize your entire sales funnel - from acquisition to renewal. During the masterclass, industry vets cover topics like lead generation, pipeline management, onboarding, closures, creating winning proposals, and standing out from the competition, etc.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Landscaper Salaries

1. What is the average salary for a landscaper in the United States?

The national average salary for a landscaper in the United States is approximately $37,000–$38,000 per year. This figure can vary based on factors such as experience, geographic location, and specialization.

2. How does experience affect a landscaper's salary?

Experience significantly impacts a landscaper's salary. Entry-level landscapers typically earn less, while those with several years of experience can command higher wages due to their advanced skills and knowledge. Experienced landscapers may earn $10K–$15K more than new hires, with supervisors often exceeding $50K annually.

3. Why do landscaper salaries vary by state?

Landscaper salaries vary by state due to differences in the cost of living, demand for landscaping services, and the availability of year-round work. States with higher living costs, such as California, generally offer higher salaries to compensate. For example, California averages ~$42K, while Texas and Florida average in the mid-$30Ks.

4. What specialized skills can increase a landscaper's salary?

Specialized skills such as irrigation systems, landscape design, and horticulture can increase a landscaper's salary. These skills are in high demand and often require additional training or certification. Arborists average ~$50K, horticulturists ~$70K+, showing how specialization drives higher pay.

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Wrapping up!

Understanding the average landscaper salary and the factors that influence it is essential for landscaping business owners. By offering competitive salaries, investing in employee training, and staying informed about industry trends, you can attract and retain top talent, enhance your services, and grow your business.

Ready to take your landscaping business to the next level? Apply the insights and strategies outlined in this guide to refine your pricing strategies and contact us today to learn more about how SiteRecon  can help you achieve your goals and unlock your full potential.