jobfacts

Landscaper

Gardeners and landscape gardeners — SOC 2020 5113

Gardeners and landscape gardeners cultivate flowers, trees, shrubs and other plants in public and private gardens, construct features to improve the appearance of existing terrain, and cut and lay turf.

Also calledLandscape gardenerLandscape designerGardenerMaintenance gardenerGreen roof installerForemanand 15 more titles
Typical full-time pay£28,5002025 Provisional
People in the job166,000across the UK
Demand for workersNot high
New adverts a month660↓ 16%on last year · 234th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025

Half of full-time landscapers earn between £25,700 and £32,200 a year.

What full-time landscapers earn, 2025
£28,500 typical£23,300lowest 10%£25,70025%£33,800top 20%n/ptop 10%
Middle half (£25,700–£32,200)n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£23,300
Lowest 20% earn less than£25,000
25%£25,700
Median£28,500
75%£32,200
Top 20% earn more than£33,800
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
More than half (66%) of landscapers work for themselves. These pay figures only cover employees, so they may not reflect what self-employed landscapers earn.
Typical pay by regionUK median £28,500
London!£34,400
South West!£30,000
Yorkshire and The Humber!£29,800
East of England!£29,300
South East!£28,500
North West!£28,400
Scotland£27,900
North East!£27,400
Wales!£25,200
East Midlands!£24,900
West MidlandsNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £28,500
London£34,400 (small sample)
South West£30,000 (small sample)
Yorkshire and The Humber£29,800 (small sample)
East of England£29,300 (small sample)
South East£28,500 (small sample)
North West£28,400 (small sample)
Scotland£27,900
North East£27,400 (small sample)
Wales£25,200 (small sample)
East Midlands£24,900 (small sample)
West MidlandsNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £26,000
  • 2024 £27,500
  • 2025 Provisional£28,500
↑ 9.9% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 660 jobs for landscapers are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as not high.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (1 in all)
Show as table
Aug 2026545
Jul 2026774
Jun 2026749
May 2026771
Apr 2026829
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 2026797
Jan 2026773
Dec 2025232
Nov 2025555
Oct 2025599
Sept 2025634
Aug 2025789
Jul 2025862
Jun 20251,117
May 20251,119
Apr 2025960
Mar 20251,031
Feb 2025961
Jan 2025633
Dec 2024276
Nov 2024487
Oct 2024608
Sept 2024793
Aug 2024854
Jul 2024982
Jun 20241,087
May 20241,312
Apr 20241,040
Mar 2024695
Feb 2024586
Jan 2024636
Dec 2023290
Nov 2023328
Oct 2023378
Sept 2023470
Aug 2023595
Jul 2023672
Jun 20231,508
May 20231,510
Apr 2023941
Mar 20231,004
Feb 2023850
Jan 2023839
Dec 2022456
Nov 2022617
Oct 2022668
Sept 2022720
Aug 2022816
Jul 2022956
Jun 20221,039
May 20221,281
Apr 20221,074
Mar 20221,208
Feb 2022996
Jan 20221,039
Dec 2021509
Nov 2021745
Oct 2021857
Sept 20211,300
Aug 20211,268
Jul 20211,527
Jun 20211,508
May 20211,211
Apr 20211,175
Mar 20211,796
Feb 2021728
Jan 2021666
Dec 2020432
Nov 2020569
Oct 2020539
Sept 2020681
Aug 2020542
Jul 2020637
Jun 2020591
May 2020523
Apr 2020476
Mar 2020671
Feb 2020777
Jan 2020637
Dec 2019303
Nov 2019559
Oct 2019439
Sept 2019515
Aug 2019503
Jul 2019671
Jun 2019682
May 2019703
Apr 2019596
Mar 2019766
Feb 2019500
Jan 2019520
Dec 2018198
Nov 2018312
Oct 2018358
Sept 2018454
Aug 2018409
Jul 2018614
Jun 2018677
May 2018682
Apr 2018624
Mar 2018580
Feb 2018557
Jan 2018559
Dec 2017265
Nov 2017258
Oct 2017401
Sept 2017457
Aug 2017503
Jul 2017588
Jun 2017757
May 2017857
Apr 20171,075
Mar 20171,077
Feb 2017689
Jan 2017506
Is there a shortage of landscapers?
Not high

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsUsual
  • Wage growthUsual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedUsual
Note: uncertain in multiple indicators: change in hourly wage, hours and earnings due to proportion of self employed workers.
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
54%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for agricultural and related trades, which includes landscapers. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London298
Buckinghamshire35
Leeds27
West Northamptonshire27
City of Edinburgh26
Oxford26
North Yorkshire25
Glasgow City24
Cornwall24
Somerset22
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where landscapers are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. Fewer than 10 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of landscapers
9.3%!
13%!
18%
23%
25%
13%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
16–249.3% (small sample)
25–3413% (small sample)
35–4418%
45–5423%
55–6425%
65+13%
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent24%
Higher education below degree7.6%
A levels or equivalent23%
GCSEs or equivalent26%
Other qualifications6.3%
No qualifications10%
Show as table
Degree or equivalent24%
Higher education below degree7.6%
A levels or equivalent23%
GCSEs or equivalent26%
Other qualifications6.3%
No qualifications10%

Main employers: landscape service activities (73%), activities of households as employers of domestic personnel (9%), other amusement and recreation activities (1.2%), other social work activities without accommodation nec (1.1%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
24%
as their highest qualification
Most common qualification
GCSEs or equivalent
held by 26%
Apprenticeships
3
from level 2
Apprenticeships take
2 to 2½ years
typically
T Levels
1
college courses for 16 to 19 year olds
Self-employed
66%
of people in the job

Routes in

Landscaper

You can get into this job through:

College

You could take a college course to get some of the skills you might need as a landscaper. For example:

  • practical horticulture
  • landscape construction
  • T Level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship, such as:

  • Horticulture or Landscape Construction Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Horticulture or Landscaping Supervisor Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

These take between 2 and 3 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

You could start as an assistant landscaper with a company and work your way up through training and promotion.

It might be helpful to have some related work experience when you apply for jobs.

Apply directly

There are no set requirements to be a landscaper. Most employers will expect you to have some knowledge and experience in gardening or horticulture.

Other routes

You could take a course with The Royal Horticultural Society to learn more about the industry or do a qualification that may help you to get a job.

Registration and professional bodies

Professional and industry bodies

You can apply to become a member of the British Association of Landscape Industries for professional development.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a landscaper from:

  • The Royal Horticultural Society
  • GoLandscape

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for landscaper. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Gardener

You can get into this job through:

College

You could do a course in gardening or horticulture to learn some of the skills and knowledge you need.

Courses include:

  • Level 1 Certificate in Horticulture Skills
  • Level 2 Diploma in Practical Horticultural Skills
  • Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course

Apprenticeship

You could do a:

  • Horticulture or Landscape Construction Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Horticulture or Landscaping Supervisor Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Horticulture and Landscaping Technical Manager Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

You might find it helpful when looking for work if you have some practical experience, for instance from working in a garden centre.

You could also start as an assistant gardener with an organisation and work your way up.

Volunteering

Many organisations offer volunteering opportunities, for example:

  • The Conservation Volunteers
  • National Trust
  • The Wildlife Trusts

You'll also find volunteering placements through Do IT and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).

Apply directly

You can apply directly for jobs. Employers value work experience and skills in gardening. Horticultural knowledge and enthusiasm are also important.

Other routes

You can take a course with The Royal Horticultural Society to learn more about gardening or complete a qualification that may help you to get a job.

What you’ll need

  • have a Certificate of Competence, if you carry out hazardous tasks using a chainsaw

Registration and professional bodies

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a gardener from:

  • The Royal Horticultural Society
  • Grow Careers

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for gardener. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

3 for this job
Level 2About 2 years

Horticulture or landscape construction operative

You gain
Level 3 award or training and assessment in emergency first aid at work minimum 1 day…; (Horticulture Operative) Lantra Awards Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Pesticides OR City…
Details on Skills England
Level 3About 2½ years

Horticulture or landscaping supervisor

You gain
Level 3 award or training and assessment in first aid at work minimum 3 day course…; Lantra Awards Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Pesticides OR City & Guilds Level 2…
Details on Skills England
Level 3About 2 years

Landscape technician

Leads to
Landscape Institute / Technician
Employers may ask for
The entry requirement for the apprenticeship will typically be five GCSEs at Grade 4 (Grade C) or higher including Maths and English or a Level 2…
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Other qualifications

QualificationTypeLevel
Agriculture, Land Management and ProductionT Level3

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • levels ground and installs drainage system as required
  • prepares soil and plants and transplants, prunes, weeds and otherwise tends plant life
  • protects plants from pests and diseases
  • cuts and lays turf using hand and machine tools and repairs damaged turf
  • prepares or interprets garden design plans
  • moves soil to alter surface contour of land using mechanical equipment and constructs paths, rockeries, ponds and other features
  • performs general garden maintenance

Skills

  • execute disease and pest control activities
  • prepare planting area for planting
  • grow plants
  • prepare flower arrangements
  • prepare planting area
  • propagate plants
  • prune plants
  • use gardening equipment
  • nurse plants
  • prune hedges and trees
  • coordinate greenhouse environment
  • execute fertilisation
  • harvest crop
  • maintain storage facilities

Knowledge

  • pest control in plants
  • plant disease control
  • plant species
  • crop production principles
  • horticulture principles
  • pruning techniques
  • pruning types
  • agronomy

Suits people who like

  • Practical, hands-on work
  • Organising and following procedures

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for skilled agricultural and related trades, a group of 5 jobs that includes landscapers.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 13%about 47,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 2035266,000including people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.