Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Salary
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN make a median of $45,280 a year, or about $21.77 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $43,711 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month, about 57.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $45K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin sits well above the national pay line for landscaping and groundskeeping workers, local pay runs about 16% 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 $1,781/month, which is 59.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for landscaping and groundskeeping workers in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria | $37K | $41K |
| Rockford | $38K | $41K |
| Bloomington | $38K | $41K |
| Springfield | $38K | $41K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level landscaping and groundskeeping workers (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $27K 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 59.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new landscaping and groundskeeping workers typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,052/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 87% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $45K here vs. $39K nationally.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for landscaping and groundskeeping workers?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do landscaping and groundskeeping workers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $45,280 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,200, and experienced landscaping and groundskeeping workers can clear $61,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,015/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 59.1% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median landscaping and groundskeeping workers salary is worth about $43,711 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.