How to become a contractor or supervisor
Official title: Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services
Also called: Nursery supervisor, Lawn care contractor, Lawn care supervisor, Greenhouse supervisor, Park maintenance head, Landscaping contractor, Landscaping supervisor, Tree removal contractor, Tree service contractor, Tree service supervisor, Groundskeeper supervisor, Horticultural contractor
Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services supervise and coordinate the activities of workers in the following unit groups: Nursery and greenhouse workers (85103) and Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers (85191). They are employed by landscaping companies, cemeteries, lawn care and tree service companies, nurseries and greenhouses and by landscaping operations of public works departments and private establishments. Contractors may be self-employed.
Main tasks
- Supervise and co-ordinate the activities of workers who maintain lawns, gardens, athletic fields, golf courses, cemeteries, parks, interior plantscapes and other landscaped areas
- Tender bids on contracts for landscaping and grounds maintenance work
- Plan and estimate the materials and labour requirements for individual contracts
- Organize the planting and maintenance of trees, gardens, lawns, shrubs and hedges and the construction and installation of fences, decks, patios, walkways and retaining walls
- Establish work schedules and procedures and co-ordinate activities with other work units
- Resolve work-related problems and prepare and submit progress and other reports
- Requisition supplies and materials
- Maintain financial and personnel records
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. A college diploma, specialized courses or industry-related training and certification in landscaping and horticulture are usually required. Experience as a landscape or horticulture supervisor or as a landscape or horticulture technician is required. Experience in the type of work supervised is required. A provincial licence to apply chemical fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides may be required.
Ways in
- College or CEGEP: College or CEGEP program. 25% of workers hold a college or other non-degree diploma (Census 2021). Common fields: Applied horticulture/horticultural business services; Business/commerce, general; Business administration, management and operations.
- Licence or registration: A provincial licence to apply chemical fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides may be required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $58,130 a year The middle half earn $48,750 to $70,200.
- About 25,200 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 26,400 are projected by 2033. (+4.8%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a contractor or supervisor?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. A college diploma, specialized courses or industry-related training and certification in landscaping and horticulture are usually required. Experience as a landscape or horticulture supervisor or as a landscape or horticulture technician is required. Experience in the type of work supervised is required. A provincial licence to apply chemical fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides may be required.
How much does a contractor or supervisor earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $58,130 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $48,750 to $70,200.
Is a contractor or supervisor a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2033, from about 25,200 to about 26,400 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a contractor or supervisor?
Usually not. Only 15% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: College or CEGEP program.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03