What Does a Grounds Supervisor Do?
Almost every campus has grounds that are planted when the buildings go up and mowed, pruned and cleared of snow after that. Those grounds take in the lawns, trees, and walkways that make a visitor's first impression and a student's daily walk better and more pleasant. A grounds supervisor runs the crews, equipment and schedules that look after them, whether on a college campus, in a city park system or at a large hospital or corporate site.
Also known as: Grounds Foreman, Horticulture and Grounds Manager, Head of Grounds Maintenance, Grounds Assistant Supervisor
Grounds Supervisor Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a grounds supervisor include:
- Assign daily work to groundskeepers and seasonal staff, balancing mowing, pruning and event setups.
- Plan seasonal planting, turf care and leaf and snow removal across the grounds.
- Inspect grounds weekly for hazards such as broken paving, dead limbs or icy steps.
- Schedule irrigation and repair broken heads, lines and controllers before plants suffer.
- Oversee pesticide and fertilizer use, keeping the application records that state law requires.
- Order plants, mulch, salt and parts, and keep spending within the grounds budget.
- Train crew members to run mowers, chainsaws and blowers safely.
- Coordinate with event staff so lawns and walkways are ready for commencement and games.
- Arrange repairs for mowers, tractors and snow equipment, and track maintenance records.
- Hire, evaluate and discipline groundskeepers with HR guidance.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a grounds supervisor, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- State pesticide applicator license, often required
- Turf, tree and shrub care
- Irrigation systems and controllers
- Scheduling crews and seasonal staff
- Small-engine and equipment know-how
- Snow and ice management
- Leading crews by example
- English and Spanish, helpful on many crews
Education and Training
Progression is usually gradual, and opportunities for lead and foreman roles open to groundskeepers who learn irrigation, turf care and pesticide work. BLS lists a high school diploma and less than five years of related work as typical for supervisors of landscaping and groundskeeping workers. Horticulture or turf management courses may also help, especially for grounds manager posts at large campuses.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $47,390 - $72,590 per year, with a median of $58,430.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers.
The median annual wage for first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service and groundskeeping workers was about $58,000 in May 2025, according to BLS. BLS projects employment in the group to grow about 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 23,900 openings a year. Most openings come from turnover. Supervisors who hold a pesticide license and can run irrigation and snow operations stand a better chance of moving up to grounds manager.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers.