The National Association of Landscape Professionals Foundation released a national employment survey of landscape industry firms. The data show approximately 60,000 professional-level positions and nearly a quarter million labor positions need to be filled this year.

“Careers in the landscape industry are one of the best kept secrets, and we want to change that,”said Sabeena Hickman, CEO of the National Association of Landscape Professionals. “There are tens of thousands of open positions at all levels of landscape industry companies, and most offer good benefits and pay.”

Market research firm The Stevenson Co. surveyed 195 landscape companies and found that executives and management-level positions are the hardest positions to fill. This is particularly true of the small (less than 10 employees) and medium sized (10 to 99 employees) firms. A key findings report is available online, and the full report, including landscape industry salary and benefits data by region and company size, can be accessed by NALP members and Foundation donors in the NALP Member Center.

Forty percent of those interviewed expect to hire management positions in the next year. Most executives and management positions are paid a yearly salary, have health insurance and are offered a retirement plan. All levels of compensation increase with company size.

Average executive salaries range from $54,000 to $115,000, while manager salaries average $50,000 at companies with more than 10 employees.

“When people think of landscape jobs, they mainly think about the hourly labor positions,” said Foundation President Miles Kuperus, LIC. “However, there are hundreds of thousands of jobs in the industry in sales, design, project management and executive level positions. Those positions require horticultural or business knowledge and they are a great career choice for students coming out of college landscape programs or those transferring from another career.”