SOC 5113 Skilled agricultural and related trades

Gardeners and landscape gardeners Salary

Median salary £27,057 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £27,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For gardeners and landscape gardeners, £28,539 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -27% versus the national average. Experienced gardeners and landscape gardeners (top 25%) earn over £30,571.

About this role

Gardeners and landscape gardeners design, create and maintain gardens, parks, grounds and green spaces. They plant, prune, mow, build hard landscaping features and manage planting schemes for residential, commercial and public sector clients.

Key responsibilities

Planting, pruning and maintaining plants, trees and shrubs
Mowing lawns and maintaining turf areas
Building patios, paths, walls and other hard landscaping
Designing planting schemes and garden layouts
Operating and maintaining garden machinery and tools

Qualifications and entry routes

RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) qualifications at Levels 2-3 are the industry standard. City & Guilds in horticulture and apprenticeships provide alternative routes. LANTRA certifications for specialist activities (chainsaw, pesticide application).

Career outlook

Steady demand for skilled gardeners and landscapers. Sustainable gardening, biodiversity planting and garden design are growth areas.

Key skills

Plant knowledge Hard landscaping Machinery operation Physical fitness Design ability

Common industries

Landscape contractors
Local authority parks
National Trust and heritage gardens
Garden maintenance companies
Self-employed gardening

Data coverage

SOC code 5113

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 33,000

Median Salary

£27,057

Mean Salary

£26,607

Jobs (000s)

33k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £23,023Median: £27,057P75: £30,571

P10: --P25: £23kMedian: £27kP75: £31kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£23,023

0-2 years

Mid Level

£23,023

3-7 years

Senior

£30,571

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +33% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +50.4%Real growth: +9.0%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 11.6%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£27,057

Full-time Only

£28,539

Full-time premium: +£1,482

Gardeners and landscape gardeners salary: common questions

How much do gardeners and landscape gardeners earn in the UK?

Gardeners and landscape gardeners earn a median of £28,539 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £23,023 and £30,571.

Is £28,539 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for gardeners and landscape gardeners?

Entry-level gardeners and landscape gardeners typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £23,023, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £23,298.

Have gardeners and landscape gardeners salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median gardeners and landscape gardeners pay has risen from £18,935 to £28,539 — +51% in cash terms, or +9.0% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for gardeners and landscape gardeners?

Male gardeners and landscape gardeners earn a median £27,330 and female gardeners and landscape gardeners £24,161 — a gap of +12% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).