Landscape Laborer Job Description: Duties, Template & Pay (2026)
A landscape laborer is a crew member on a landscaping or grounds maintenance crew: mowing, edging, trimming, mulching, planting, hauling materials and helping install hardscape, usually under a crew leader and on a route of properties. It is an entry-level role that the whole business depends on in spring and summer. This page gives you a landscape laborer job description template, versions for lawn care technicians and irrigation technicians, the pesticide and irrigation licensing rules quoted at source, BLS pay, interview questions and what it costs to reach crew members on social.
What a landscape laborer does
BLS groups the job under landscaping and groundskeeping workers (SOC 37-3011). The Occupational Outlook Handbook describes landscaping workers planting flowers and shrubs, trimming vegetation, fertilizing, mulching, watering plants, grading lawns and installing hardscapes such as walkways and patios, on residential and commercial properties. O*NET's task list for the occupation starts with “Mow or edge lawns, using power mowers or edgers” and includes operating tractors, chainsaws, sod cutters and other powered equipment.
A laborer is the person on the crew who does most of that work with their hands. The crew leader or foreman plans the day, drives the truck and trailer, talks to the customer and checks quality. The laborer rides along and works the property.
This page is about the crew role. If you are hiring someone to look after a single site, such as a campus, park or golf course, see the groundskeeper and landscaper job description.
Landscape laborer duties
- Mow, edge, string trim and blow off lawns, beds and hard surfaces
- Prune and trim shrubs and hedges with hand and power tools
- Weed, edge and mulch beds, and plant flowers, shrubs and trees
- Lay sod, spread seed and straw, and haul or spread topsoil
- Help install hardscape such as pavers, walls, edging and walkways
- Load and unload mowers, tools and materials, and secure them on the trailer
- Rake and remove leaves and debris; clean up the site before leaving
- Do basic daily checks on equipment: fuel, oil, blades, guards
- Wear the required PPE and follow safe equipment procedures
- In some regions, shovel and plow snow and spread ice melt in winter
Landscape laborer job description template
Copy this into your ATS or job board, replace the bracketed fields and delete what does not apply. It is written for a maintenance or installation crew member; the next sections cover lawn care and irrigation technicians.
Job title
Landscape Laborer [/ Landscape Crew Member], [Company name], [City, ST]
Summary
[Company name] is hiring landscape laborers for our [maintenance / installation] crews in [area]. You will work outdoors on a crew of [number], mowing, trimming, mulching, planting and helping build [patios / walls / beds] at [residential / commercial] properties. No experience needed; we train you on the equipment.
[Season and schedule, e.g. March through November, Monday–Friday 7 a.m. start, some Saturdays]. [Pay range]. [Whether there is winter work, such as snow removal.]
What you will do
• Mow, edge, trim and blow properties on our route
• Prune shrubs, weed and mulch beds, and plant
• Lay sod, spread seed and haul materials
• Help install [pavers / walls / drainage / edging]
• Load, unload and secure equipment and materials
• Leave every property clean
• Check equipment daily and report problems
What you need
• Able to work outdoors in heat, sun and rain
• Able to lift up to [X] pounds and be on your feet all day
• Reliable way to get to [the shop] by [start time]
• Willing to wear PPE and follow safety rules
• [Valid driver's license, if you will drive company vehicles]
Nice to have
• Landscaping, lawn care, farm or construction experience
• Experience with zero-turn mowers, skid steers or other equipment
• [Pesticide applicator license or willingness to get one]
What we offer
• [Pay range], [overtime in peak season]
• [Paid training on equipment]
• [Winter work or return offer for next season]
• [Path: crew leader, lawn care technician, irrigation technician, foreman]
How to apply
[One step. Say when crews start.]
Lawn care technician job description
A lawn care technician usually works alone on a route, applying fertilizer, weed control and other treatments to lawns and landscape beds, and sometimes aerating and overseeding. The job is closer to pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation (SOC 37-3012), which BLS describes as workers who “apply herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides to plants or soil to prevent or control weeds, insects, and diseases.” O*NET lists lawn specialist and spray technician among that occupation's reported job titles.
- Drive a route and treat [number] properties a day with fertilizer and weed or pest control
- Calibrate and operate spreaders and sprayers, and mix products to the label
- Identify turf weeds, insects and disease, and note problems for the customer
- Post required notices, record each application and talk with customers
- Aerate and overseed in season
Licensing. BLS states: “Most states require licensing for workers who apply pesticides. Licensing for workers who handle fertilizers varies by state.” For restricted use pesticides, federal rules under 40 CFR 171.201 let a noncertified applicator apply only under the direct supervision of a certified applicator, and the noncertified applicator “must be at least 18 years old,” with a narrow exception for immediate family members of private applicators, and must have been “instructed within the last 12 months in the safe operation of any equipment he or she will use for mixing, loading, transferring, or applying pesticides.” Your state's pesticide regulatory agency sets the license categories and exams for commercial lawn and ornamental work. Name the license in the posting and say whether you pay for the exam. This is general information, not legal advice.
Irrigation technician job description
An irrigation technician installs, services and repairs sprinkler and drip systems: digging and trenching, laying pipe, setting heads and valves, wiring and programming controllers, finding leaks and broken lines, and doing spring start-ups and fall winterizations. The job has more troubleshooting and more customer contact than general crew work.
- Install and repair mainlines, laterals, valves, heads and drip zones
- Wire, program and troubleshoot controllers and sensors
- Find and fix leaks, broken heads and low-pressure zones
- Run seasonal start-ups, inspections and winterizations
- Adjust coverage and schedules to reduce overspray and water waste
- Explain repairs and write up work orders for customers
Licensing. Some states license irrigation work. In Texas, for example, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality says a licensed irrigation technician “can connect a landscape irrigation system to a water supply” and “maintain, alter, repair, service, or direct the installation of an irrigation system,” working under the supervision of a licensed irrigator, and must be under the direct supervision of a licensed landscape irrigator while connecting a system to a water supply (TCEQ, 30 TAC Chapter 30 and Chapter 344). Backflow prevention and plumbing rules also vary by state and city. Check yours before you write the requirements line.
Requirements: what to ask for, and what to drop
| Requirement | What to know |
|---|---|
| Landscaping experience | Drop it for laborers. Crew work is taught on the job, and farm, construction and warehouse workers transfer well. |
| Driver's license | Only if the person will drive. Many laborers ride with the crew leader. Requiring a license for a rider shrinks your pool. |
| Pesticide license | Keep for lawn care technicians where your state requires it. Offer to pay for training and the exam instead of requiring it at hire. |
| Irrigation license | Keep where your state licenses irrigation work, and say which license. |
| Physical demands and weather | Keep, and say it plainly: outdoors all day, heat, lifting, noise and vibration from equipment. |
| Start time and transportation | Keep. Early shop starts and getting to the yard are real requirements for crew work. |
What landscape laborers earn
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (SOC 37-3011), the BLS median hourly wage was $18.82 in May 2025; O*NET, using the same 2025 BLS wage data, lists $39,150 a year. For pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation (SOC 37-3012), the closest match for lawn care technicians, the median was $22.28 an hour, or $46,340 a year. BLS does not publish a separate irrigation technician wage; check local postings for that role.
| Occupation | Employment 2025 | Projected 2035 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 1,188,600 | 1,244,200 | +5% (55,600) |
| Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation (37-3012) | 25,700 | 26,700 | +4% (1,000) |
BLS projects about 162,500 openings a year for grounds maintenance workers as a whole. It also notes that grounds maintenance workers may be busier or work longer hours in the spring, summer and fall, and that some jobs are seasonal.
Interview questions for a landscape laborer
These six questions check safety, reliability and whether the candidate knows what outdoor crew work is like.
1. Have you worked outdoors all day in the heat? How did you handle it?
Good answers mention water, breaks in the shade and speaking up when they feel unwell. Someone who has never done it can still answer honestly about what they would do.
2. What do you check before you start a mower or trimmer?
Listen for fuel and oil, guards in place, blades or line, and clearing the area of rocks and debris. For trainees, a sensible guess is fine.
3. You are string trimming and a customer's car is parked next to the bed. What do you do?
You want someone who changes the approach, uses a guard or shield, or tells the crew leader, rather than hoping for the best.
4. The crew leaves the shop at 6:45 a.m. How will you get here every day?
Ask it directly. For crew work, getting to the yard on time every day is a real requirement, not a formality.
5. (Lawn care) How do you know how much product to mix and where you can apply it?
The only right answer starts with “the label.” Mentions of wind, drift, notices and records are a strong sign.
6. (Irrigation) A zone will not turn on. How do you find the problem?
Good candidates work in order: controller and program, wiring and solenoid, valve, then water supply. Random digging is the wrong approach.
What it costs to reach a landscape laborer
Our 2026 Social Job Advertising Benchmark does not have a landscaping role family, so we use the sector it sits in. Across 335 skilled trades and field service campaign-months, the median cost per applicant was $11.89, with the middle half of campaigns between $6.50 and $24.89 and an 18 percent apply rate. The all-role median is $13.88.
Timing matters in landscaping. BLS federal hiring counts behind our hiring-season analysis show spring and summer seasonal work in construction, landscaping and hospitality being hired from March through June, so starting ads before your crews need to be full puts you in a quieter auction. The apply rate matters more: apply rate explained 70 percent of the variation in cost per applicant across the benchmark. Cost per applicant is not cost per hire.
Building the rest of the crew? See the groundskeeper and landscaper, arborist, construction laborer, equipment operator and pest control technician job descriptions, and landscaping recruiting for the hiring side.
The job description is not the job ad
The template is the document for your files. The ad has to reach someone working a warehouse shift or a fast food counter who would rather be outside.
- Lead with pay, the start date and the schedule. “Outdoors, no experience needed, start in March” is a headline.
- Say whether there is winter work or a guaranteed return next season. That is a real advantage if you have it.
- Show your crew and your trucks, not stock photos.
- Keep the form short: availability, transportation, and a driver's license question only if it matters.
- On Facebook and Instagram, job ads run in the Employment special ad category: a minimum 15-mile radius and no targeting by age, gender or ZIP code. See Meta's special ad category.
More on hiring crews is in landscaper interview questions and what makes a good job ad.
Frequently asked questions
What does a landscape laborer do?
A landscape laborer works on a landscaping crew, mowing, edging, trimming, weeding, mulching, planting, laying sod, hauling materials and helping install hardscape such as pavers and walls. They load and unload equipment, clean up each property and do basic equipment checks, usually under a crew leader who plans the route and talks with customers.
What should a landscape laborer job description include?
A landscape laborer job description should state the crew type, season, start time and pay, then list the core tasks: mowing, trimming, mulching, planting and hauling. Add physical demands and weather, how the person gets to the shop, whether a driver's license is needed and whether you train people with no landscaping experience.
How much does a landscape laborer make?
BLS does not publish a landscape laborer wage. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers, the occupation that includes crew members, had a median hourly wage of $18.82 in May 2025, or $39,150 a year according to O*NET. Check local postings and say whether overtime is available in peak season.
What is a lawn care technician job description?
A lawn care technician job description covers route-based lawn treatment: applying fertilizer and weed or pest control, calibrating spreaders and sprayers, mixing products to the label, identifying turf problems, posting notices and keeping application records. It should name any state pesticide license required and whether you pay for training and the exam.
Do lawn care technicians need a license?
Often, yes. BLS states that most states require licensing for workers who apply pesticides, and licensing for fertilizer handling varies by state. For restricted use pesticides, federal rules at 40 CFR 171.201 require noncertified applicators to work under a certified applicator's direct supervision and generally be at least 18. Check your state agency.
What does an irrigation technician do?
An irrigation technician installs, services and repairs sprinkler and drip systems: trenching, laying pipe, setting heads and valves, wiring and programming controllers, finding leaks and running spring start-ups and fall winterizations. Some states license the work. In Texas, a licensed irrigation technician works under the supervision of a licensed irrigator.
What is the difference between a landscape laborer and a groundskeeper?
A landscape laborer usually works on a crew that travels between customer properties, often for a landscaping contractor. A groundskeeper usually looks after one site, such as a campus, park, hospital or golf course, and may work more independently. BLS counts both as landscaping and groundskeeping workers, so the pay data is the same.
When should I start hiring landscape laborers?
Start before your crews need to be full. Boostpoint's analysis of federal hiring counts shows spring and summer seasonal work in construction, landscaping and hospitality being hired from March through June, so advertising earlier puts you in a quieter auction. BLS notes grounds maintenance workers are busier in spring, summer and fall.
What interview questions should I ask a landscape laborer?
Ask whether they have worked outdoors all day in the heat, what they check before starting a mower or trimmer, how they would trim next to a customer's car, and how they will get to the shop for an early start. For lawn care and irrigation roles, add questions about product labels and zone troubleshooting.
How much does it cost to recruit landscape laborers?
Boostpoint's 2026 benchmark has no landscaping role family. The skilled trades and field service sector ran a median cost per applicant of $11.89 across 335 campaign-months, with the middle half between $6.50 and $24.89 and an 18 percent apply rate. That is cost per applicant, not cost per hire.
Related job descriptions
Hiring landscape crews?
The description is the document. Getting it in front of people near your yard who want to work outside, before the season starts, is the part we do.
Wage, employment and projection data for landscaping and groundskeeping workers (SOC 37-3011) and pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation (SOC 37-3012): U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, Grounds Maintenance Workers, last modified 27 August 2026; wages are May 2025 OEWS. Annual wages, tasks and reported job titles from O*NET OnLine 37-3011.00 and 37-3012.00. Pesticide supervision rules from 40 CFR 171.201 on eCFR; Texas irrigation licensing from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; general information, not legal advice. Cost-per-applicant figures: Boostpoint 2026 Social Job Advertising Benchmark, 891 managed campaigns and 1,334 campaign-months; hiring-season timing from Boostpoint's analysis of BLS JOLTS hires, 2021–2025. Read at source 24 September 2026.