How to Become a Landscape Technician in California (2026)
California employs about 106,180 landscape technicians earning a median $45,560 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most landscape technicians train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in California.
Key Facts
- Median wage (California): $45,560/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
- Employed in California: 106,180 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
- Location quotient: 0.95x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
- Projected growth: 3.6% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)
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California employs approximately 106,180 landscape technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $45,560 1. Nationally, landscape technician employment is projected to grow 3.6% from 2024 to 2034, with about 158,200 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a landscape technician in California, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Landscape Technician Wages by Metro Area in California
Conservation Scientists Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), conservation scientists wages in California vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | 28,170 | $45,005 | $46,533 | $37,250 | $60,068 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | 13,290 | $43,893 | $44,798 | $36,452 | $58,644 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | 12,680 | $49,649 | $55,914 | $40,976 | $79,529 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 11,020 | $46,004 | $46,603 | $37,491 | $59,357 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | 7,630 | $46,087 | $48,089 | $37,875 | $65,869 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | 6,070 | $49,043 | $54,471 | $42,659 | $75,050 |
| Fresno | 3,070 | $41,062 | $43,852 | $35,992 | $56,847 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | 2,870 | $45,283 | $46,831 | $36,998 | $60,572 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | 2,830 | $47,826 | $50,743 | $39,799 | $63,874 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | 2,520 | $45,887 | $46,307 | $36,442 | $59,623 |
| Salinas | 1,640 | $47,479 | $49,419 | $38,042 | $63,880 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | 1,630 | $43,770 | $44,130 | $35,680 | $57,630 |
| Stockton-Lodi | 1,390 | $44,280 | $45,460 | $36,410 | $60,350 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | 1,200 | $46,294 | $47,848 | $37,318 | $62,288 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | 1,080 | $47,444 | $50,731 | $38,530 | $66,575 |
| Modesto | 1,080 | $45,740 | $47,630 | $37,070 | $60,290 |
| Visalia | 970 | $44,140 | $44,390 | $34,950 | $58,750 |
| Napa | 940 | $48,540 | $51,370 | $38,930 | $62,460 |
| Vallejo | 930 | $45,470 | $48,240 | $38,130 | $63,040 |
| Chico | 710 | $45,150 | $46,300 | $35,910 | $62,440 |
| Merced | 420 | $43,230 | $45,770 | $35,770 | $62,840 |
| Redding | 420 | $45,500 | $46,000 | $35,090 | $59,150 |
| Yuba City | 340 | $47,420 | $46,660 | $35,630 | $58,930 |
| El Centro | 280 | $43,790 | $44,590 | $34,780 | $58,240 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | 180 | $44,360 | $45,330 | $36,420 | $58,970 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Median wage (California): $45,560 per year 1
Quick Answers About How to Become a Landscape Technician in California
How to become a landscape technician in California? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for landscape technicians in California.
How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.
What do landscape technicians earn in California? The median annual wage for landscape technicians in California is $45,560 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,780 and experienced professionals can earn $61,200 or more 1.
How to Become a Landscape Technician in California
- Finish high school or earn a GED. Most California training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
- Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an accredited trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in California that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
- Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
- Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to landscape technicians in California before you start working.
Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for landscape technicians in California? California currently employs approximately 106,180 landscape technicians 1. Nationally, landscape technician employment is projected to grow 3.6% from 2024 to 2034 2.
What training programs are available in California? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in California.
How much do landscape technicians earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for landscape technicians in California is $45,560, which is $7,470 above the national median of $38,090 according to BLS data 1.
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Citations
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |