Landscaping is two trades wearing one name, and they sit under different awards with different money. Sorting out which one you’re in is the first thing worth doing.
Which award covers you
Maintenance and horticultural landscaping — mowing, planting, garden care, grounds work — generally falls under the Gardening and Landscaping Services Award (MA000101).
Structural landscape construction — retaining walls, paving, decking, concrete, drainage, water features — is building work, and depending on the employer and project it can fall under the construction award instead, which generally pays better and carries site allowances.
Same job title, materially different pay. Check which award your training contract names and confirm your rate on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
Structural work is where the money is
Retaining walls, paving and hardscaping pay better than garden maintenance, require more skill, and lead somewhere. Landscape construction also brings you into contact with the licensing system — structural landscaping above certain job values requires a contractor licence in most states, and retaining walls above specified heights need engineering certification.
If you want landscaping to be a career rather than a job, the structural side is the path, and it’s worth choosing an employer who does that work rather than pure maintenance.
Weather and seasonality affect your year
More than most trades, landscaping runs on the calendar. Spring and autumn are peak, summer heat brings early starts and heat stress management, and wet weather stops work outright. Some employers manage this with steady year-round rostering; others scale hours up and down. It’s a fair question to ask before you sign.
Heat is a genuine safety issue here, not an inconvenience. Australian outdoor workers face real heat stress risk, and adequate water, shade and rest breaks are your employer’s responsibility.
Tickets that widen what you can do
Landscaping stacks up more licences than most people expect. A White Card for construction sites, a chemical user licence for herbicide application, chainsaw competency, skid steer and excavator tickets, and a truck licence for towing and materials. Each one makes you more useful and more employable, and most can be picked up during your apprenticeship.
Where it leads
Landscape construction, commercial grounds contracts, sports turf management and greenkeeping, irrigation specialisation and landscape design all pay above general maintenance. Sports turf in particular is a distinct and well-paid specialisation with its own qualification pathway.
Landscaping also has one of the lower barriers to going out on your own — a ute, a trailer and a licence gets you started, though structural work requires the appropriate contractor licence.
Your qualification
There are two main pathways: AHC30921 Certificate III in Landscape Construction for structural work, and AHC30722 Certificate III in Horticulture for the planting and maintenance side. They lead to different careers, so pick deliberately rather than taking whichever your employer defaults to.
How to check your exact rate
Use the Fair Work Pay Calculator with the correct award — this matters more in landscaping than most trades — plus your year, start date and adult apprentice status. The Fair Work Ombudsman helpline is 13 13 94.
FAQ
Which award covers landscaping apprentices?
Usually the Gardening and Landscaping Services Award (MA000101). Structural landscape construction may fall under the construction award, which generally pays more.
Is landscaping a licensed trade?
Maintenance work generally isn’t. Structural landscaping above certain job values requires a contractor licence in most states, and retaining walls above set heights need engineering sign-off.
Does landscaping work stop in winter?
Hours can drop in wet or cold periods depending on the employer and the work mix. Worth asking how they handle it before you start.
What’s the difference between landscaping and horticulture?
Landscape construction builds hard elements — walls, paving, decks. Horticulture is plants, soil and garden care. Separate qualifications, separate careers.
General information only — not financial or legal advice. Award rates change annually on 1 July. Check the official source and your state authority before acting.
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