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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workerss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workerss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $72,956/year, better purchasing power than Salinas's higher nominal pay of $78,730. San Francisco and New York dominate the headline salary lists for most occupations, but they don't crack the COL-adjusted top 10 here. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Salinas$78,730
#2 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$76,990
#3 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro$76,910

Best purchasing power

#1 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro$72,956
#2 Madison$72,710
#3 Salinas$72,203

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workerss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
$76,910
$72,956
#2
Madison
20% rent burden
$70,740
$72,710
#3
Salinas
41% rent burden
$78,730
$72,203
#4
Sioux Falls
22% rent burden
$63,840
$70,440
#5
$73,670
$69,063
#6
$76,490
$68,829
#7
$63,530
$68,121
#8
Fargo
22% rent burden
$61,680
$67,877
#9
Appleton
24% rent burden
$62,630
$67,767
#10
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
47% rent burden
$72,800
$67,545
#11
Trenton-Princeton
34% rent burden
$69,540
$67,397
#12
Fort Wayne
21% rent burden
$62,280
$67,279
#13
Spartanburg
23% rent burden
$60,740
$66,711
#14
Napa
44% rent burden
$75,040
$66,673
#15
$76,990
$66,595
#16
Springfield
33% rent burden
$63,960
$66,583
#17
Waterbury-Shelton
32% rent burden
$66,430
$66,576
#18
$74,610
$66,285
#19
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
26% rent burden
$63,020
$65,755
#20
$64,990
$65,739
#21
Worcester
37% rent burden
$67,090
$65,441
#22
Milwaukee-Waukesha
25% rent burden
$63,320
$65,319
#23
Kansas City
27% rent burden
$60,420
$65,291
#24
$64,900
$65,180
#25
Green Bay
23% rent burden
$60,550
$65,045

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workerss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $78,730 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $65,608 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workerss?

Madison has one of the lowest rent burdens for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workerss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,168/month, with a median salary of $70,740.

Where do First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workerss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Salinas pays the highest nominal median salary at $78,730/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkerssView →How to become a first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workersGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →