Groundsmen and greenkeepers: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time groundsmen and greenkeepers in the UK earned a median £28,288 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 28% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
It is in the lowest-paid third of the 382 occupations (68th from the bottom).
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £25,114 and £33,482.
Median full-time pay: women £25,259 a year, men £28,302 a year.
Paid hours are long: a full-time median of 40 a week including overtime, against 37.5 across all jobs.
ASHE counts roughly 45,000 employee jobs, 89% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 36.1% (from £20,787), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 30,700 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £22,348 | £479.10 | £12.32 | £16,806* | £356.40* | £12.24 |
| 20th percentile | £24,335 | £493.90 | £12.67 | £22,392 | £479.50 | £12.60 |
| 25th percentile | £25,114 | £502.00 | £12.90 | £23,868 | £487.90 | £12.82 |
| 30th percentile | £25,820 | £509.90 | £13.08 | £24,503 | £497.10 | £13.06 |
| 40th percentile | £27,022 | £535.60 | £13.64 | £26,162 | £516.80 | £13.57 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £28,288 | £559.30 | £13.94 | £27,519 | £540.00 | £13.94 |
| 60th percentile | £30,241 | £594.10 | £14.58 | £29,243 | £577.40 | £14.54 |
| 70th percentile | £32,902 | £627.20 | £15.19 | £31,758 | £614.90 | £15.16 |
| 75th percentile | £33,482 | £649.50 | £15.56 | £32,997 | £632.60 | £15.56 |
| 80th percentile | £34,706 | £662.20 | £16.10 | £33,995 | £654.70 | £16.07 |
| Mean | £30,014 | £591.20 | £14.71 | £27,953 | £549.10 | £14.68 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £20,787 | £410.70 | £10.46 | £20,231 | £406.30 | 34 |
| 2022 revised | £21,907 | £428.90 | £10.86 | £21,398 | £422.80 | 37 |
| 2023 revised | – | £476.00 | £11.82 | – | £460.00 | 38 |
| 2024 revised | £25,758 | £515.80 | £12.90 | £25,316 | £503.80 | 37 |
| 2025 provisional | £28,288 | £559.30 | £13.94 | £27,519 | £540.00 | 45 |
Groundsmen and greenkeepers by region
UK: 30,700 (± 6,800), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What groundsmen and greenkeepers do
Groundsmen and greenkeepers cut and lay turf and maintain areas for golf courses and other sports grounds. (ONS SOC 2020, 5114)
Also covers: greenkeeper, groundsman, groundsperson, grass keeper, green improver, green keeper, grounds keeper, grounds operative, turf contractor, turf cutter, turf digger, turf layer, turf supplier, golf course man and grounds maintenance operative.
- Levels ground and installs drainage system as required
- Cuts and lays turf using hand and machine tools and repairs damaged turf
- Moves soil to alter surface contour of land using mechanical equipment and constructs appropriate landscaping features and maintains such features
- Monitors and maintains the quality and condition of turf
- Rolls, mows and waters grass, marks out pitches
There are no formal academic entry requirements. NVQs/SVQs in Sports Turf Management are available at level 4. Apprenticeships and professional qualifications are also available.
Related
Agricultural and related trades (median £28,980) · Gardeners and landscape gardeners · Horticultural trades · salary percentile · Average weekly hours worked in the UK · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026