Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Salary
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers in Ames, IA make a median of $44,580 a year, or about $21.43 an hour. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.83), which stretches that salary to about $50,186 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,153/month, about 37.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $45K get you in Ames?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ames’s Regional Price Parity (88.83). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About landscaping and groundskeeping workers
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What this looks like in Ames
Ames sits well above the national pay line for landscaping and groundskeeping workers, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $39K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,153/month, which is 38.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.83 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for landscaping and groundskeeping workers in metros near Ames, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $45K | $49K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $38K | $43K |
| Cedar Rapids | $40K | $45K |
| Iowa City | $40K | $43K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ames, IA
Entry-level landscaping and groundskeeping workers (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $49K | +25% | 800 |
| Massachusetts | $49K | +24% | 22,880 |
| Alaska | $48K | +22% | 1,080 |
| Washington | $47K | +20% | 22,550 |
| Minnesota | $47K | +19% | 17,610 |
| Vermont | $46K | +18% | 2,700 |
| Maine | $46K | +17% | 6,410 |
| Hawaii | $46K | +17% | 7,040 |
| Colorado | $46K | +17% | 21,990 |
| Connecticut | $46K | +17% | 13,490 |
| California | $46K | +16% | 106,180 |
| Montana | $45K | +16% | 4,270 |
| Oregon | $45K | +15% | 11,870 |
| New Hampshire | $45K | +15% | 6,050 |
| New York | $45K | +15% | 47,600 |
| Rhode Island | $45K | +14% | 4,040 |
| Illinois | $44K | +12% | 34,780 |
| Idaho | $42K | +6% | 7,980 |
| New Jersey | $41K | +6% | 30,470 |
| Wisconsin | $41K | +5% | 18,970 |
| North Dakota | $41K | +4% | 2,100 |
| Utah | $41K | +4% | 12,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $40K | +1% | 34,850 |
| Maryland | $39K | +1% | 17,440 |
| Kansas | $39K | +0% | 9,480 |
| Nebraska | $39K | -0% | 7,280 |
| Iowa | $39K | -1% | 8,800 |
| Arizona | $39K | -1% | 22,450 |
| Nevada | $39K | -1% | 9,980 |
| Missouri | $39K | -2% | 18,310 |
| Virginia | $38K | -2% | 25,180 |
| Wyoming | $38K | -2% | 1,790 |
| Ohio | $38K | -2% | 34,420 |
| Michigan | $38K | -3% | 32,330 |
| Indiana | $38K | -3% | 19,260 |
| Georgia | $38K | -3% | 25,510 |
| North Carolina | $38K | -3% | 32,730 |
| New Mexico | $38K | -4% | 5,030 |
| Delaware | $37K | -5% | 4,130 |
| Florida | $37K | -5% | 86,040 |
| Tennessee | $37K | -5% | 18,250 |
| Texas | $37K | -6% | 63,430 |
| South Carolina | $37K | -6% | 15,600 |
| Kentucky | $37K | -6% | 8,920 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -9% | 6,610 |
| Oklahoma | $36K | -9% | 9,280 |
| Alabama | $36K | -9% | 12,020 |
| South Dakota | $35K | -10% | 2,980 |
| Louisiana | $35K | -11% | 8,510 |
| West Virginia | $32K | -18% | 3,340 |
| Mississippi | $32K | -19% | 4,940 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track landscaping and groundskeeping workers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a landscaping and groundskeeping worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ames?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 38.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,153/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for landscaping and groundskeeping workers in Ames?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new landscaping and groundskeeping workers typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,734/month. At HUD’s $1,153/month FMR, rent would take 66% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is landscaping and groundskeeping worker a high-paying job in Ames?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $45K here vs. $39K nationally.
How does Ames compare to the national average for landscaping and groundskeeping workers?
Ames pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.83), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do landscaping and groundskeeping workers make in Ames, IA?
The median is $44,580 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,900, and experienced landscaping and groundskeeping workers can clear $58,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Ames?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,979/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 38.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a landscaping and groundskeeping workers salary go in Ames?
Ames has a Regional Price Parity of 88.83 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median landscaping and groundskeeping workers salary is worth about $50,186 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do landscaping and groundskeeping workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.