SOC 5114 Skilled agricultural and related trades

Groundsmen and greenkeepers Salary

Median salary £27,519 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £28,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For groundsmen and greenkeepers, £28,288 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -28% versus the national average. Experienced groundsmen and greenkeepers (top 25%) earn over £32,997.

About this role

Groundsmen and greenkeepers maintain sports pitches, golf courses, cricket grounds and other sports surfaces to professional standards. They manage turf, drainage, irrigation and playing surface preparation to ensure optimal conditions for sport and recreation.

Key responsibilities

Maintaining turf quality through mowing, aerating, top-dressing and overseeding
Preparing playing surfaces for matches and events
Managing irrigation, drainage and growing conditions
Operating specialist grounds maintenance machinery
Applying fertilisers, pesticides and line markings

Qualifications and entry routes

NVQ Level 2/3 in Sports Turf Management or equivalent. IOG (Institute of Groundsmanship) qualifications and membership are the professional standard. PA1/PA6 pesticide qualifications are required for chemical applications.

Career outlook

Professional sport demands ever-higher pitch standards. Sustainability and water management skills are increasingly important alongside traditional turf expertise.

Key skills

Turf management Machinery operation Agronomy Drainage management Attention to detail

Common industries

Golf clubs
Football and rugby clubs
Cricket clubs
Local authority sports facilities
Horse racing

Data coverage

SOC code 5114

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 38,000

Median Salary

£27,519

Mean Salary

£27,953

Jobs (000s)

38k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £23,868Median: £27,519P75: £32,997

P10: £17kP25: £24kMedian: £28kP75: £33kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£16,806

0-2 years

Mid Level

£23,868

3-7 years

Senior

£32,997

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +96% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +50.3%Real growth: +8.9%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 8.2%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£27,519

Full-time Only

£28,288

Full-time premium: +£769

Groundsmen and greenkeepers salary: common questions

How much do groundsmen and greenkeepers earn in the UK?

Groundsmen and greenkeepers earn a median of £28,288 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £23,868 and £32,997.

Is £28,288 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for groundsmen and greenkeepers?

Entry-level groundsmen and greenkeepers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £23,868, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £16,806.

Have groundsmen and greenkeepers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median groundsmen and greenkeepers pay has risen from £18,719 to £28,288 — +51% in cash terms, or +10% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for groundsmen and greenkeepers?

Male groundsmen and greenkeepers earn a median £27,528 and female groundsmen and greenkeepers £25,259 — a gap of +8.0% in 2025.

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