What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers in the U.S. earn more than $39,150 a year — the middle 80% land between $31,150 and $56,730. About 952,640 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Elementary occupations earn about ₹11,530 a month on average — around ₹1.4 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$39,150typical pay / year
952,640people in this work
$56,730+top 10% earn
₹1.4 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Make2
Operate landscaping equipment and tools
+Start the ride-on mower and hedge trimmer, inspect fuel and safety guards, mow the lower beds in parallel…
Operate landscaping equipment and tools
+Start the ride-on mower and hedge trimmer, inspect fuel and safety guards, mow the lower beds in parallel passes, trim hedges to the agreed profile, and report any equipment issues or tough stumps before moving to the next property.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Plan or cultivate lawns or gardens.
+Measure the client’s front and side yards, sketch proposed garden beds and lawn areas with sizes and sun…
Plan or cultivate lawns or gardens.
+Measure the client’s front and side yards, sketch proposed garden beds and lawn areas with sizes and sun exposure notes, list plant types and quantities, and prepare a cost estimate to present at Tuesday’s site meeting.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordO*NETWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Move1
Remove litter and debris
+Clear the neighborhood park beds of litter, pick up branches and surface debris, sweep paths, and haul one…
Remove litter and debris
+Clear the neighborhood park beds of litter, pick up branches and surface debris, sweep paths, and haul one full trailer load to the municipal green waste area before Friday so planting zones are clean for next week’s installation.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Fixing3
Install sprinkler systems
+Survey the property for water source, map sprinkler zones with head counts and pipe runs, specify controllers…
Install sprinkler systems
+Survey the property for water source, map sprinkler zones with head counts and pipe runs, specify controllers and backflow needs, and produce a materials and labor quote to hand to the homeowner by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Mow lawns and trim grass
+Cut and edge all turf areas on Oak Street property, mow to two inches, trim borders and walkways, collect…
Mow lawns and trim grass
+Cut and edge all turf areas on Oak Street property, mow to two inches, trim borders and walkways, collect clippings and blow clean the patio so the client’s lawn looks show-ready before Saturday morning.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Mulch landscapes
+Spread three cubic yards of shredded bark around beds at Maple Apartments, keep mulch two inches from stems,…
Mulch landscapes
+Spread three cubic yards of shredded bark around beds at Maple Apartments, keep mulch two inches from stems, rake smooth, and leave a signed sign-off sheet noting depths and quantities for facilities management by end of day Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
The daily work15
Shape landforms to improve usability and aesthetics
+Reshape the sloped garden beds at 42 Maple Street to create two flat terraces with gentle berms, specify…
Shape landforms to improve usability and aesthetics
+Reshape the sloped garden beds at 42 Maple Street to create two flat terraces with gentle berms, specify cut-and-fill volumes, note erosion control and root zones, and produce a site-ready grading sketch for crew review by Thursday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Water and fertilize plants to promote healthy growth
+Schedule weekly watering and monthly slow-release fertiliser for the front and rear beds at 42 Maple Street,…
Water and fertilize plants to promote healthy growth
+Schedule weekly watering and monthly slow-release fertiliser for the front and rear beds at 42 Maple Street, list sprinkler runtimes, application rates, and drought-window adjustments, and produce a one-page care sheet for the homeowner by Monday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Install and maintain water features like ponds
+Design and document installation steps for the backyard pond at 42 Maple Street: excavation depth and slope,…
Install and maintain water features like ponds
+Design and document installation steps for the backyard pond at 42 Maple Street: excavation depth and slope, liner type, pump and filter locations, overflow detail, planting zones and maintenance access, then produce a materials list for procurement by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Advise customers on plant selection or care.
+Advise Mrs. Langley on planting choices for her shady front bed, recommend three low-water understory shrubs…
Advise customers on plant selection or care.
+Advise Mrs. Langley on planting choices for her shady front bed, recommend three low-water understory shrubs and one evergreen, explain seasonal care and fertiliser timing, and draft a one‑page care sheet she can follow.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NETWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Prune trees, shrubs, and hedges
+Prune the two mature laurels and the western hedge at 30 Park Lane: remove deadwood, reduce overhang to the…
Prune trees, shrubs, and hedges
+Prune the two mature laurels and the western hedge at 30 Park Lane: remove deadwood, reduce overhang to the property line, thin interior growth for airflow, and leave clippings stacked by the driveway for pickup.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Install or repair fences and structures
+Repair the broken section of picket fence at 8 Elm Street: remove damaged posts, set new treated posts to…
Install or repair fences and structures
+Repair the broken section of picket fence at 8 Elm Street: remove damaged posts, set new treated posts to depth, fix three rails, anchor the gate post, and list materials and labour estimate for Tom in procurement.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Remove dead or damaged trees
+Remove the leaning ash at 42 Maple Avenue: assess rootplate stability, cut into manageable sections, rig…
Remove dead or damaged trees
+Remove the leaning ash at 42 Maple Avenue: assess rootplate stability, cut into manageable sections, rig crown away from the house, grind the stump to four inches below grade, and note disposal fee for the invoice.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Attach wires from planted trees to support stakes.
+Stake and guy the newly planted London plane on Oak Drive: attach flexible ties to two stakes at opposing…
Attach wires from planted trees to support stakes.
+Stake and guy the newly planted London plane on Oak Drive: attach flexible ties to two stakes at opposing angles, leave enough slack for trunk movement, check tension after 48 hours, and record follow‑up care date.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Decorate gardens with stones or plants.
+Design the front border at 16 Birch Road with river stones and native perennials: show a placing plan, list…
Decorate gardens with stones or plants.
+Design the front border at 16 Birch Road with river stones and native perennials: show a placing plan, list stone sizes and plant palette, estimate labour to lay a weed membrane and finish with mulch.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Use irrigation methods to adjust the amount of water consumption and to prevent waste.
+Adjust the irrigation zones to reduce run times on turf and shrubs, convert sprinkler heads to matched…
Use irrigation methods to adjust the amount of water consumption and to prevent waste.
+Adjust the irrigation zones to reduce run times on turf and shrubs, convert sprinkler heads to matched precipitation where possible, and schedule soaker lines to run overnight to halve daily water use while avoiding runoff.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Shovel snow from walks, driveways, or parking lots, and spread salt in those areas.
+Clear snow from the main walk, staff parking row, and the guest driveway to bare pavement, pile snow at the…
Shovel snow from walks, driveways, or parking lots, and spread salt in those areas.
+Clear snow from the main walk, staff parking row, and the guest driveway to bare pavement, pile snow at the northeast berm, then broadcast salt evenly across treated areas and log time and material used for the site report.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Maintain irrigation systems, including winterizing the systems and starting them up in spring.
+Winterize the irrigation by blowing out each zone to 40 psi, close and insulate exposed valves, tag them on…
Maintain irrigation systems, including winterizing the systems and starting them up in spring.
+Winterize the irrigation by blowing out each zone to 40 psi, close and insulate exposed valves, tag them on the map, then in spring perform a start-up checklist: purge, check for leaks, adjust heads, and record flow and pressure for each zone.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Care for natural turf fields, making sure the underlying soil has the required composition to allow proper drainage and to support the grasses.
+Core aerate the field, test and amend the rootzone to achieve specified sand-peat ratio for drainage,…
Care for natural turf fields, making sure the underlying soil has the required composition to allow proper drainage and to support the grasses.
+Core aerate the field, test and amend the rootzone to achieve specified sand-peat ratio for drainage, topdress with screened material, and reinstate seed so the turf establishes over three growing cycles.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Haul or spread topsoil, or spread straw over seeded soil to hold soil in place.
+Load screened topsoil and spread to the design grade at two inches depth, then cover newly seeded areas with…
Haul or spread topsoil, or spread straw over seeded soil to hold soil in place.
+Load screened topsoil and spread to the design grade at two inches depth, then cover newly seeded areas with straw netting anchored at 10-foot intervals to prevent erosion until germination.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Apply pesticides or fertilizers (license required)
+Apply granular fertilizer to lawn zones at the licensed rate, spot-treat insect pressure observed on the…
Apply pesticides or fertilizers (license required)
+Apply granular fertilizer to lawn zones at the licensed rate, spot-treat insect pressure observed on the western bed with the approved pesticide, log product batch numbers and applicator certification, and notify the client of reentry intervals.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Says who?
These are the pages we read to build this. Open any of them and check us.
Activities this job lives in
The human activities behind the tasks — each with its honest AI ceiling.
The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
The LLOS Work Atlas is the world's largest evidenced task library — a map of human work, with a ready prompt behind every task. 1,774 careers · every task named by the sources that witnessed it — O*NET, ESCO, real job descriptions, Wikipedia — and the deepest tasks by several at once. And it is honest about limits: where AI cannot help, the map says so.
The rest of the map
Same library, five ways in.
Copyright © LLOS.ai · 2026 — original pedagogy, voice, and design — all rights reserved.
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses