Gardener salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a gardener is $59,800 per annum, before tax, up $12,700 since 2018.
Most employees are covered by the Gardening and Landscaping Services Award, so the setting matters more than the title: a council or government grounds crew typically pays better and more predictably than a small private maintenance round. Weekend and public holiday work attracts penalty rates, and a chemical spraying certificate, turf qualification or heavy vehicle licence can move you into a higher classification. Self-employed gardeners set their own rates, but pay their own insurance, equipment and super.
Roles that pay more than gardener
The largest typical pay rise is $16,500 a year, moving into Greenkeeper.
- Greenkeeper+$16,500/yr
- Arborist+$13,000/yr
- Horticulturist+$8,800/yr
How to negotiate a higher gardener salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time gardener salary is $59,800; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Use demand as leverage. Gardeners are on the skills shortage list for regional areas, so employers are more likely to move on price to keep or attract someone in a role they're struggling to fill.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Hand and power tool work and Cleaning and grounds maintenance tend to command a premium over general gardener experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Greenkeeper pays a typical $16,500 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Gardener salary questions
How much do gardeners earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a gardener is $59,800 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is gardener pay rising or falling?
The median gardener salary is up $12,700 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than gardener?
Greenkeeper pays a typical $16,500 a year more and draws on similar skills to gardener.