30%+
of household water use is outdoors
The EPA says outdoor water use accounts for more than 30% of total household water use on average.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense Statistics and Facts, updated March 11, 20262026 Reference Guide
Landscaping & lawn care statistics
Current, source-linked facts about outdoor water use and the landscaping workforce. Updated October 9, 2026.
At a glance
Useful figures for the work happening outdoors.
These statistics bring together recent public data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each figure links directly to its original source and is dated so it can be used with confidence.
Up to 50%
of outdoor water can be lost to inefficient irrigation
Wind, evaporation, and runoff from inefficient irrigation methods and systems can account for as much as half of outdoor water use.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense Statistics and Facts, updated March 11, 20267,600 gallons
potential annual household irrigation savings
A well-managed irrigation system can reduce a household’s irrigation water use by 15%, or nearly 7,600 gallons a year.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense Statistics and Facts, updated March 11, 2026Up to 25,000 gallons
can be wasted each year by a poorly maintained automatic irrigation system
The EPA says a household with an automatic landscape irrigation system that is not properly maintained and operated can waste up to 25,000 gallons annually.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense Statistics and Facts, updated March 11, 20261.3 million
grounds maintenance jobs in the United States
Grounds maintenance workers held about 1,299,200 jobs in 2025, including 1,188,600 landscaping and groundskeeping workers.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Grounds Maintenance Workers, updated August 27, 2026$40,080
median annual pay for grounds maintenance workers in 2025
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $40,080 for grounds maintenance workers in May 2025.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Grounds Maintenance Workers, updated August 27, 20265%
projected workforce growth from 2025 to 2035
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects grounds maintenance employment will grow from 1,299,200 jobs in 2025 to 1,359,300 in 2035.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Grounds Maintenance Workers, updated August 27, 202660,100
additional grounds maintenance jobs projected by 2035
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment will rise by 60,100 jobs between 2025 and 2035.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Grounds Maintenance Workers, updated August 27, 2026162,500
average annual job openings projected this decade
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 162,500 annual openings for grounds maintenance workers from 2025 through 2035.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Grounds Maintenance Workers, updated August 27, 202648%
work in services to buildings and dwellings
Services to buildings and dwellings was the largest employer of grounds maintenance workers in 2025, accounting for 48% of jobs.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Grounds Maintenance Workers, updated August 27, 2026Methodology & sources
How this page is maintained
This page uses publicly available figures from primary U.S. government sources. Water-use figures come from the EPA WaterSense program, last updated March 11, 2026. Workforce figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, last modified August 27, 2026.
We review these sources regularly and update this page when a newer release changes a figure. Last reviewed: October 9, 2026.
Cite this page
Michael’s Landscaping Services, Inc. “Landscaping & Lawn Care Statistics (2026).” Updated October 9, 2026. https://michaels-landscaping.vizboost.com/landscaping-statistics
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