Commercial landscaping recruiters serving Washington DC.
Federal building grounds, commercial campus work, and the Naval Yard waterfront demand a historic landscape preservation specialty most markets don't require.
Federal grounds, and a waterfront redevelopment.
Metro pay for every role we recruit is in the table below. What the hub does name: federal building grounds, commercial campus work, and Naval Yard waterfront development, with historic landscape preservation named specifically for federal properties.
We recruit across the full org chart for commercial landscaping contractors in Washington DC against that documented context.
A $5B+ federal modernization pipeline, and a waterfront district.
Federal grounds work, plus a mixed-use waterfront redevelopment.
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A multi-year GSA building portfolio modernization requiring historic landscape preservation specialty knowledge for federal properties alongside HVAC, electrical, and security upgrades.
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A mixed-use waterfront redevelopment running through 2030, generating commercial campus grounds and waterfront-specific landscape work.
What commercial landscaping roles pay in Washington, D.C..
In the Washington, D.C. metro, BLS puts the median for landscaping and groundskeeping workers at $42,700 a year, 9% above the $39,150 national median. Among the 112 metros BLS publishes for this occupation, Washington, D.C. ranks 33rd on pay. Most of the market sits between $37,000 and $56,090. Of the other field roles, landscape designer / architect pays the most locally, at a $89,350 median. National benchmarks by role are in the 2026 Commercial Landscaping Salary Guide.
| Role | Washington, D.C. median | Typical range | National median | vs. national | Employed locally |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape / Grounds Crew MemberLandscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (37-3011) | $42,700 | $37,000–$56,090 | $39,150 | +9% | 17,140 |
| Grounds Crew SupervisorFirst-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (37-1012) | $60,460 | $47,100–$83,980 | $58,430 | +3% | 2,690 |
| Tree Trimmer / ArboristTree Trimmers and Pruners (37-3013) | $51,700 | $42,680–$69,190 | $50,960 | +1% | 670 |
| Licensed Pesticide ApplicatorPesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation (37-3012) | $44,440 | $44,440–$62,910 | $46,340 | −4% | – |
| Landscape Designer / ArchitectLandscape Architects (17-1012) | $89,350 | $61,030–$156,740 | $79,870 | +12% | 850 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Washington, D.C. metro. Range is 10th to 90th percentile. Headcount is shown for field occupations only; management, estimating and supervisory codes are counted across every industry in the metro.
What candidates expect. What credentials matter. What kills offers.
We don't tell prospective clients who their competitors are hiring - that's a discipline our clients value, and we'll honor it on a call. What we will share publicly: how Washington DC commercial landscaping hiring actually plays out in 2026.
Why historic preservation is a distinct specialty for federal properties
The hub names historic landscape preservation specifically for federal properties - a designer without preservation credentials can't touch protected federal grounds work.
Why federal procurement rules shape the hiring process here
GSA building portfolio work carries federal contractor procurement requirements that add real process steps beyond standard commercial landscaping engagements.
What this means for sourcing
We source against verified historic-preservation and federal-property project history, not resume claims, given the specific scope named by the hub.
Realistic timelines
Standard commercial landscaping roles: 4-6 weeks intake to signed offer, consistent with the region's broader hiring timeline. First slate of vetted candidates within 48 hours regardless.
The commercial landscaping positions we fill, most often.
Across all Washington DC commercial landscaping clients, these are the highest-volume roles we've recruited for in the last 24 months.
- Commercial landscape designer (historic preservation)
- Federal-property grounds specialist
- Landscape crew foreman
- Grounds maintenance manager
For the broader picture across every commercial trade in Washington DC, see the Washington DC metro overview. To learn more about commercial landscaping generally (across all 100+ markets we serve), see our Commercial Landscaping industry page.
How we recruit commercial landscaping in Washington, D.C., plainly.
Same approach we use in every market - but tuned for what works in Washington DC's commercial landscaping segment specifically:
- Same-day intake call. We get the role, the project context, the budget, your dealbreakers. For Washington DC landscaping work, we also confirm whether the role sits within federal-property scope or standard commercial grounds work.
- Candidate sourcing within 48 hours. We pull from our existing Washington DC commercial landscaping candidate network, filtered for verified historic-preservation and federal-property credentials.
- Vetted short list (week one to several weeks). Three to five candidates. We verify real design portfolios and federal-property project history rather than a line on a resume - timeline depends on the project scope involved.
- Offer and close. Standard roles close in 4-6 weeks. We help with offer math against Washington DC documented general context.
Washington, D.C. runs 11% fewer commercial landscaping workers per job than the country as a whole — below the national concentration. Fewer per job means the people you want are already working, and usually for someone who would rather keep them.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 , Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers. Metro-wide figures for the base occupation; the wage table above is role-specific and commercial.
How Washington, D.C.'s commercial landscaping market compares
In 2023 the Washington, D.C. metro had 1,659 landscaping companies (counted by business location), with about 18,734 people on their payrolls. Average pay at those firms was $50,838, 5.3% above the national average of $48,279 for the same kind of employer. Headcount grew 1.6% over the year, a little behind the 2.2% national increase. That works out to 26 per 100,000 residents against 37 nationally. Fewer local employers means experienced people are easier to identify, but many work for firms based outside the metro.
Among the 100 metros we cover with published BLS figures, Washington, D.C. ranks 7th for headcount, 29th for median pay and 74th for concentration for landscaping and groundskeeping workers.
What this means for hiring:For commercial landscaping employers in Washington, D.C., the headline number is misleading. About 17,140 landscaping and groundskeeping workers work here, one of the larger workforces we cover, but relative to the size of the local economy the trade is thinner than average, so every other employer is drawing on the same people. Local employers are still adding headcount, which keeps competition for experienced people high. Expect to recruit people who are already employed, and to make the case for moving.
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 annual averages and BLS OEWS May 2025, Washington, D.C. metro. Employers are counted by business location.
How Washington, D.C.'s commercial landscaping market has changed since 2018.
The number of landscaping companies in Washington, D.C. rose from 1,636 in 2018 to 1,659 in 2023, up 1%, behind the 13% growth nationally. Headcount at those firms went up 8%, to about 18,734 people. Average annual pay there went from $41,882 to $50,838 (+21%), slower than the 31% national increase.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping companies: business locations | 1,636 | 1,659 | +1% |
| Landscaping companies: employment | 17,365 | 18,734 | +8% |
| Landscaping companies: average annual pay | $41,882 | $50,838 | +21% |
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private employers, annual averages. A dash means BLS did not publish the figure.
Frequently asked — commercial landscaping hiring in Washington, D.C..
What is driving commercial landscaping demand in Washington DC right now?
The GSA's $5B+ federal building modernization pipeline and the $1.5B Naval Yard/Anacostia waterfront redevelopment are the named drivers.
Why does historic preservation matter for DC landscaping work?
The metro's own data names historic landscape preservation as a distinct specialty required for federal properties, separate from standard commercial landscaping.
What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Washington, D.C.?
BLS puts the Washington, D.C. median for landscaping and groundskeeping workers at $42,700 a year, 9% above the $39,150 national median. That ranks 33rd of 112 metros with published figures, in the middle of the pack. Pay is bunched together here, $37,000 to $56,090 across the 10th to 90th percentile and only a 1.5x gap, so small differences in an offer are noticed.
Is it hard to hire landscaping and groundskeeping workers in Washington, D.C.?
It is about average. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers are as common in Washington, D.C. as they are nationally (location quotient 0.89), with about 17,140 in the metro. The 1,659 landscaping companies here average about 11 employees per location.
Which commercial landscaping roles pay the most in Washington, D.C.?
Of the roles we recruit for, Landscape Designer / Architect pays the most in Washington, D.C., a $89,350 median. Landscape / Grounds Crew Member is the lowest-paid field role at $42,700. Relative to national pay, Landscape Designer / Architect is the strongest-paying role here (12% above). Licensed Pesticide Applicator trails national pay the most (4% below).
How many landscaping companies operate in Washington, D.C.?
BLS counted 1,659 landscaping companies in Washington, D.C. in 2023, employing about 18,734 people between them. That is roughly where the count stood in 2018 (1,636). That averages 11 people per location. They pay an average of $50,838, 5% above the $48,279 national average for the same kind of employer.
Which nearby metros compete with Washington, D.C. for landscaping and groundskeeping workers?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Baltimore (36 miles, about 7,480, $39,620 median), Lancaster (88 miles, about 1,650, $39,140 median) and Richmond (95 miles, about 4,360, $37,170 median). Washington, D.C. out-pays Baltimore, Lancaster and Richmond, an advantage when recruiting from there.
We have not closed a commercial landscaping search in Washington, D.C. yet. Here is what we have closed.
These are other trades in the same market. We would rather show you the searches we have actually run in Washington, D.C. than imply a record in this trade that we do not have yet.
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- IT TechnicianEarly-career IT talent with a fresh degree, placed into a technician seat with room to grow.
Hiring commercial landscaping talent in Washington DC?
Tell us the role. We'll tell you timeline and where we'd source the candidate - in under 30 minutes.