What Does a Lead Groundskeeper Do?
A lead groundskeeper directs a crew of groundskeepers, planning landscape maintenance schedules, overseeing project work, and ensuring property grounds meet high appearance and safety standards.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Field Manager, Golf Course Superintendent, Grounds Crew Supervisor, Grounds Foreman, Grounds Maintenance Supervisor, Grounds Manager, Grounds Supervisor, Groundskeeper Supervisor.
Lead Groundskeeper Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a lead groundskeeper include:
- Supervise and direct groundskeeping crew members on daily tasks
- Plan and schedule landscape maintenance, seasonal projects, and special events setup
- Inspect grounds and identify maintenance needs and improvements
- Train crew members on equipment operation, techniques, and safety
- Coordinate irrigation system programming and maintenance
- Manage landscape supply inventory and equipment maintenance schedules
- Oversee snow and ice removal operations
- Communicate with property management on project needs and budgets
- Ensure pesticide and chemical applications comply with regulations
- Maintain records of work completed, materials used, and crew hours
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a lead groundskeeper, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Landscape management and horticulture expertise
- Crew leadership and training abilities
- Equipment operation and maintenance knowledge
- Scheduling and project planning skills
- Irrigation system management
- Safety management for chemical applications and equipment
- Communication with management and team members
- Budget awareness and supply management
Education and Training
A high school diploma with extensive groundskeeping experience. An associate's degree in horticulture or landscape management is preferred. Pesticide applicator certification is often required. Supervisory experience is essential.
Salary and Job Outlook
Average Salary: $38,000 - $52,000 per year
BLS projects employment of first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers to grow about 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 23,900 openings a year. Lead groundskeepers can advance to grounds superintendent, landscape manager, or facilities management positions. Specialized knowledge in irrigation, turf management, or arboriculture enhances career prospects.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers.
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 95% work outdoors in all kinds of weather every day
- 85% are on the phone every day
- 78% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 68% deal with loud or distracting noise every day
- 65% usually work more than 40 hours a week
- 63% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 63% bend or twist for more than half the day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 32% |
| High school diploma or GED | 20% |
| Associate's degree | 14% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 13% |
Tools and Software Lead Groundskeepers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy leading, persuading and making business decisions as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Monitoring, Time Management, Active Listening, Management of Personnel Resources, Speaking, Critical Thinking.
Knowledge areas used most: Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Administration and Management, Mathematics, Public Safety and Security.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 3 of 5, which means medium preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Lead Groundskeeper Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 37-1012.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.