Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Salary
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV make a median of $42,700 a year, or about $20.53 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $39,217 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 76.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $43K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $43K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 77.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for landscaping and groundskeeping workers in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $40K | $38K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $37K | $37K |
| Richmond | $37K | $38K |
| Charlottesville | $38K | $38K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level landscaping and groundskeeping workers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $19K 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)
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Frequently asked questions
Can a landscaping and groundskeeping worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 77.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new landscaping and groundskeeping workers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,220/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 101% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $43K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for landscaping and groundskeeping workers?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do landscaping and groundskeeping workers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $42,700 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,000, and experienced landscaping and groundskeeping workers can clear $56,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,905/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 77.3% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $39,217 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.