Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Salary
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA make a median of $45,560 a year, or about $21.9 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.89), so that salary is closer to $40,719 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,001/month, about 95.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $46K get you in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad’s Regional Price Parity (111.89). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad 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 $3,001/month, which is 95.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 12% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.89), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for landscaping and groundskeeping workers in metros near San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $45K | $39K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $44K | $41K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $48K | $42K |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $45K | $42K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Entry-level landscaping and groundskeeping workers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $21K 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
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad numbers change.
Related careers in Building & Maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Can a landscaping and groundskeeping worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 95.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,001/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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new landscaping and groundskeeping workers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,235/month. At HUD’s $3,001/month FMR, rent would take 134% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $46K here vs. $39K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 12% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad compare to the national average for landscaping and groundskeeping workers?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do landscaping and groundskeeping workers make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median is $45,560 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,250, and experienced landscaping and groundskeeping workers can clear $58,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,135/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,001/month, which eats 95.7% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad has a Regional Price Parity of 111.89 (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 $40,719 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.