Hospitality · Director · 10 to 18 years typical
Director of Grounds & Landscaping Salary
Annual base compensation, national and by market, from 258 named sources. Every figure below says where it came from.
| Market | Multiplier | P25 | P50 | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | 1.40× | $110,000 | $155,000 | $205,000 | $245,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1.30× | $105,000 | $145,000 | $190,000 | $230,000 |
| Boston, MA | 1.25× | $100,000 | $140,000 | $180,000 | $220,000 |
| Palm Beach, FL | 1.25× | $100,000 | $140,000 | $180,000 | $220,000 |
| Miami, FL | 1.23× | $100,000 | $135,000 | $180,000 | $215,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1.20× | $95,000 | $130,000 | $175,000 | $210,000 |
| Washington, DC | 1.20× | $95,000 | $130,000 | $175,000 | $210,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 1.15× | $90,000 | $125,000 | $165,000 | $200,000 |
| Chicago, IL | 1.05× | $85,000 | $115,000 | $150,000 | $185,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 1.00× | $80,000 | $110,000 | $145,000 | $175,000 |
Time to fill 14 weeks for comparable searches, estimated from rouka's benchmark set.
Primarily US resort market. Sustainability and native landscaping increasing complexity.
What does a Director of Grounds & Landscaping do?
The Director of Grounds & Landscaping operates within luxury hotels, resorts, private clubs, and hospitality groups, overseeing guest experience, food and beverage operations, and property performance. Professionals in this role typically bring 10 to 18 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Director level, this position draws from a very tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 60-150 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What drives Director of Grounds & Landscaping compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a Director of Grounds & Landscaping is $110,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $80,000 to $145,000. The 59% spread between P25 and P75 reflects significant pay variation driven by property size and star rating, revenue under management, brand affiliation (independent vs. flagged), market tier (gateway city vs. resort), and whether the role carries full P&L responsibility. Demand is holding stable, with compensation levels expected to track broader market adjustments.
Director of Grounds & Landscaping career path
Professionals who move into Director of Grounds & Landscaping roles most commonly come from branded luxury hotel operations, food and beverage management, revenue management, or hospitality management programs at top-tier schools. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward multi-property or regional oversight, VP of operations for hotel groups, or independent resort ownership and advisory roles. The average tenure in this role is approximately 6 years, with an annual turnover rate of 8%.
Hiring a Director of Grounds & Landscaping?
A search playbook for this seat: compensation positioning against the band above, the sourcing map, and the interview framework.
