Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker Salary in San Diego, CA
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $45,560 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,383 take-home, or $3,115 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median landscaping and groundskeeping worker salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,287
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,825
- Medicare (1.45%)$661
- California income tax$812
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$592
- Take-home pay$37,383
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,250 | $17.91 | $31,147 | $2,596 |
| 25th percentile | $38,580 | $18.55 | $32,145 | $2,679 |
| Median (50th) | $45,560 | $21.90 | $37,383 | $3,115 |
| 75th percentile | $48,560 | $23.35 | $39,604 | $3,300 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,360 | $28.06 | $46,762 | $3,897 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,560 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median landscaping and groundskeeping worker's $37,383 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,412 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for landscaping and groundskeeping workers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #39 of 73 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omaha, NE | $45,970 | $37,905 | $41,241 |
| 2 | Milwaukee, WI | $44,440 | $36,713 | $37,873 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $41,450 | $34,474 | $37,252 |
| 4 | Portland, ME | $46,670 | $37,711 | $37,023 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $48,480 | $41,134 | $37,013 |
| 6 | Providence, RI | $45,250 | $37,458 | $36,806 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $47,160 | $38,369 | $36,604 |
| 8 | Boise City, ID | $43,540 | $35,965 | $36,553 |
| 39 | San Diego, CA | $45,560 | $37,383 | $33,412 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 73 metros →
About the job: landscaping and groundskeeping workers
Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $48,330
- Santa Rosa, CA — $46,740
- Sacramento, CA — $45,110
- Santa Maria, CA — $45,230
- San Francisco, CA — $48,040
- Riverside, CA — $43,650
- Oxnard, CA — $44,790
- Fresno, CA — $40,710
Frequently asked questions
How much does a landscaping and groundskeeping worker make in San Diego, CA?
The median landscaping and groundskeeping worker salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $45,560 a year, or about $21.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,580 and $48,560.
What is a landscaping and groundskeeping worker’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $45,560 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $37,383 a year ($3,115 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,404 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a landscaping and groundskeeping worker?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $39,150. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,412 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #39 of 73 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a landscaping and groundskeeping worker afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 79% of a median landscaping and groundskeeping worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.