Grounds maintenance workers held about 1.3 million jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most grounds maintenance workers were as follows:
Services to buildings and dwellings
41%
State and local government, excluding education and hospitals
8
Other amusement and recreation industries
7
Educational services; state, local, and private
4
Employment in the detailed occupations that make up grounds maintenance workers was distributed as follows:
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
1,167,800
Tree trimmers and pruners
53,200
Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation
36,400
Grounds maintenance workers, all other
24,500
Grounds maintenance work is done outdoors in all kinds of weather. The work can be repetitive and physically demanding, requiring frequent bending, lifting, and shoveling.
Injuries and Illnesses
Grounds maintenance workers have a rate of injuries and illnesses that is higher than the national average. Workers who use dangerous equipment, such as lawnmowers and chain saws, must wear protective clothing, eyewear, and earplugs.
Those who apply chemicals such as pesticides or fertilizers must wear protective gear, including appropriate clothing, gloves, goggles, and sometimes respirators.
Tree trimmers and pruners, who often work at great heights, must always use fall protection gear in addition to wearing hardhats and eye protection for most activities.
Work Schedules
Many grounds maintenance jobs are seasonal. Jobs are most common in the spring, summer, and fall, when planting, mowing, and trimming are most frequent. However, many also provide other seasonal services, such as snow removal and installation and removal of holiday décor.