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Job Duties 

Groundskeepers may:

Plan and cultivate lawns and gardens

Plant, fertilize, mulch, and water flowers, grass, trees, and shrubs

Cut lawns and prune trees and shrubs

Trim and edge around flower beds, walks, and walls

Rake and compost leaves and clean up litter

Shovel snow

Repair concrete or asphalt walks and driveways

Maintain small equipment

Apply pesticides and fungicides to destroy insects and diseases

The tools and equipment used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Groundskeepers may specialize in these areas:

406.684-014 INDUSTRIAL-COMMERCIAL GROUNDSKEEPERS maintain the grounds on industrial and commercial property to keep them in a neat and orderly condition.

408.161-010 LANDSCAPE GARDENERS plan and execute small-scale landscaping operations by arranging and placing lawns, flowers, trees, and shrubs on a plot of ground to make it more attractive. They maintain the grounds of private residences and business establishments.

408.687-014 LANDSCAPE LABORERS participate in the physical work duties of landscape gardeners by moving soil, equipment, and materials; and digging holes.

406.687-010 PARKS AND GROUNDS GROUNDSKEEPERS keep the grounds of city, state, or national parks and playgrounds clean and repair buildings or equipment.

301.687-018 YARD WORKERS may perform a combination of maintenance duties to keep grounds of private residences in a neat and orderly condition.

In larger establishments, Groundskeepers may perform only certain tasks and be known as grass cutter, rider-mower operator, hedge-and-shrub cutter or leaf raker.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Groundskeepers usually work under the direction of an experienced worker or supervisor. They spend much of their time working alone, but may work with others on particular assignments. Groundskeepers perform most of their work outdoors in all kinds of weather. The job is not considered dangerous; however, insecticides can be harmful if not handled with caution, and people working with tools and machines, can be injured if they use them carelessly.

The four or five winter months in Michigan are not very busy and Groundskeepers may be laid off for part of the winter. However, some Groundskeepers may do snow removal work. Those who work in government jobs under the civil service offer stability and security not found in other Groundskeeping employment.

In this field, the average workweek may vary from 40 to 48 hours, including some Saturdays. During the planting and growing season, some take advantage of all daylight hours, starting or working a split shift.

In some areas, this work is unionized with many employees belonging to The International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Groundskeepers who belong to a union pay dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Working with plants and growing them

• Using machines in your work

• Seeing the results of your work

• Doing activities of a routine, definite, organized nature

You Should Be Able To:

• Work according to set procedures and standards

• Perceive form and detail in objects

• Understand and follow safety standards

• Repeatedly perform the same work

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

You have been asked to estimate the amount of ground bark needed for a large planting job. Your plan shows that the area to be mulched is shaped like a trapezoid with height 10 feet, upper length 49 feet, and lower length 68 feet. At the required depth of 3 inches, a cubic yard of bark will cover about 108 square feet of area. How many cubic yards of bark should be ordered?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Should be able to read and be familiar with various kinds of ground cover because they may be specified in work orders.

For example, trailing fuchsia, rockspray cotoneaster, creeping coprosma, green stonecrop, dwarf rosemary, pratia, garden lippia, pernettya, mondo grass, noell's grevillea.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare a memorandum indicating the need for specific garden tools and equipment.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Should be able to demonstrate analytical skills in assessing ground areas and determining what work needs to be done.

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a High School Diploma with specific Vocational Education Classes or an Associate Degree (two years of study beyond high school) or an Apprenticeship (usually three to four years of training beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0100 AGRISCIENCE , 0500 BUILDING TRADES , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 2200 MATH , 2900 SCIENCE , 3200 TECHNICAL DRAWING , 3300 TECHNOLOGY , 3400 WOODS

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

003 HORTICULTURE

Approved vocational education programs in Horticulture prepare students to produce, process, and sell flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees which are used mainly for ornamental purposes. Programs include the study or machinery and equipment used in a Horticultural business such as an arboretum, greenhouse, or nursery.

The following courses may be required for completion of this program:

High school students should consult their guidance office for more information about the specific requirements of this program at their school or area vocational education center.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

007 AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY

Programs in Agricultural Technology provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed to serve modern agriculture in many capacities. Graduates will qualify for work in agricultural production and supplies, pest control, food processing, landscaping, nurseries, ornamental horticulture, grounds management, and other agricultural occupations. Individuals who teach Agricultural Technology at the secondary school level must have a Michigan Teaching Certificate.

Courses within programs will vary from school to school according to the technical option the student chooses. Technical options may include:

  Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

 ***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

064 LANDSCAPE GARDENER

Many people enter occupations within this MOIScript through an apprenticeship program. An apprenticeship program is a formal program that takes 3 - 5 years to complete with most of the time spent on the job.

WHAT IS LEARNED ON THE JOB

WHAT IS LEARNED IN THE CLASSROOM

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

There are no Military Programs related to this MOIScript  

E-Learning Courses and Programs

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

There are several ways to gain experience in groundskeeping work including summer jobs maintaining parks, cemeteries, recreational facilities, and residential lawns in neighborhoods. Secondary vocational education programs in horticulture as well as community college agricultural technology programs may offer co-op or work experience opportunities. Formal apprenticeships in landscape gardening also offer experience opportunities. Part-time work in greenhouses, orchards, and nurseries, along with farm work, may be available also.

            School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Groundskeeper employer

internships

volunteer work with a Groundskeeper employer

community service work with an agency

Some ways of finding a job as a Groundskeeper include applying directly to employers; reading newspaper want ads; contacting civil service, school placement, and Michigan Works! offices; and consulting unions. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

Michigan Talent Bank ( http://www.michworks.org/mtb/user/MTB_EMPL.EntryMainPage )

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Employment Referral Services ( http://www.gcsaa.org ) Yahoo! Careers ( http://careers.yahoo.com/ )

Classifieds Employment ( http://www.classifieds2000.com )

Michigan Department of Career Development ( http://www.michigan.gov/mdcd )

Michigan Works! ( http://www.michiganworks.org/ )

            You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Wages vary widely with geographic location, employer, and the particular job and are higher in urban areas than in rural areas.

Nationally, wages paid to most Groundskeepers ranged from $5.15 to over $20.00 per hour in 2001. Median weekly earnings for Groundskeepers were $356 in 2001. The median weekly earnings of  "all" workers in the U.S. were $597 in 2001.

Golf course superintendents (Head Groundskeeping Manager) in the United States earned estimated annual average salaries of $59,339 in 2001. Those working in Michigan earned $54,633 annually, although this lower salary rate may reflect Michigan's shorter golf season (due to weather conditions).

Hourly earnings of Groundskeepers employed by the State of Michigan in mid 2002 ranged from $13.87 to $21.35. Those employed by Oakland County earned between $11.65 and $23.25 per hour in 2002.

Park maintenance workers employed by various Michigan cities earned the following hourly wage in 2002:

In addition to their base hourly earnings, some Groundskeepers also receive periodic cost-of-living increases.

Groundskeepers may receive medical insurance, paid vacations and holidays, sick leave, and retirement plans. Some also receive dental care insurance. These benefits are usually paid for, at least in part, by the employer.

Groundskeepers may advance with experience or further training to crew chief or grounds maintenance supervisor. Some may open their own business. To become a superintendent of grounds, such as at a golf course, the individual usually needs 2 to 4 years of education beyond high school.

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

There were about 944,100 Groundskeepers employed nationally in 2000. Employment in this occupation is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2010. About 12.4% of them were self-employed. The industry distribution for Groundskeepers looked like this:

Private employment of Groundskeepers should increase as new industrial buildings and shopping centers are constructed and as industrial parks are developed. In addition to openings arising from growth, some openings are also expected each year as workers retire, die, or transfer to other lines of work.

There were approximately 17,375 Groundskeepers employed in Michigan. Most worked for private households and businesses. Others worked for local governments maintaining public parks, government buildings, or street right-of-ways.

Employment of Groundskeepers in Michigan should grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2008. An average of 1,260 yearly openings is expected, 780 due to growth and 480 due to replacement of those who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers transfer to other jobs or occupations.

Although improvements in groundskeeping machinery have enabled fewer workers to do more work, landscaping services are taking over much of the grounds maintenance work at large residential estates, residential complexes, and at some businesses. Also, as a result of increased leisure time, more people will frequent such public facilities as parks, zoos, conservatories, ball fields, golf courses, race tracks and other recreational areas. Such employers are expected to need larger grounds maintenance staffs. A favorable balance exists between trained individuals and openings. However, since little or no formal training is required to enter this occupation, competition for the available job openings should be keen.

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2008

 EMPLOYMENT             NUMBER       PERCENT    PROJECTED YEARLY

  REGION                         EMPLOYED   GROWTH    JOB OPENINGS

  Ann Arbor Area                  830                72.0              85

  Battle Creek Area               140                 45.1              10

  Benton Harbor Area            240                 45.4              18

  Central Michigan                   95                 37.5                7

  Detroit MSA                     7,330                43.6               539

  East Central Michigan           60                  48.4                5

  Flint Area                             515                36.4               34

  Grand Rapids Area             1,420               50.2              113

  Jackson Area                        285                26.0               16

  Kalamazoo Area                   450                42.0               32

  Lansing MSA                      1,005               21.3               51

  Muskegon Area                     105                33.6                7

  Northeast Lower Peninsula      95                 26.6                6

  Northwest Lower Peninsula    330                62.5               31

  Saginaw MSA                        515                33.7               32

  Thumb Area                           205                 47.3              16

  Upper Peninsula                      100                11.9                4

  West Central Michigan            100                41.0                 7

 MSA designates a Metropolitan Statistical Area  

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.

SUMMARY PROFILE

The occupation of Groundskeeper can be summarized by the following:

Copyright © 2003 Michigan Department of Career Development