Mostly Resilient

Last Update: 6/19/2026

AI Resilience Score for Landscaping Supervisors:

51.9%

Median Score

Meaningful human contribution

Med

Long-term employer demand

Med

Sustained economic opportunity

Med

Our confidence in this score:
High

Contributing sources

Methodology and Scoring Rationale

To score how resilient landscaping supervisor work is to AI, we ask one question in three parts:

First, how much of the job still needs a human, read from four AI-exposure sources: our own AI Resilience Model, Anthropic's Observed Exposure, Microsoft's AI Applicability, and Will Robots Take My Job. We call this dimension Meaningful Human Contribution (MHC) and weight it at 40%.

Next, whether employers will keep hiring for this job over the long term. This dimension, which we call Long-term Employer Demand (LTE), is calculated from BLS data and weighted at 30%.

Last, whether pay and mobility will hold up. We use wage bill and adaptive capacity data from independent researchers (Althoff & Reichardt, 2026; Manning & Aguirre, 2026). We call this dimension Sustained Economic Opportunity (SEO) and weight it at 30%.

For landscaping supervisors, all seven sources had data and generally agreed: AI exposure lands in the low-to-medium range across AI Resilience Model, Anthropic, Microsoft, and Will Robots Take My Job, pointing to real but limited automation risk. Demand signals are steady, though pay mobility is softer. That mix produces high confidence and a score of "Mostly Resilient."

AI Resilience Report forFirst-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers

$56,170 median salary23,200 annual openingsSOC Code: 37-1012.00

First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers are somewhat more resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 7 sources.

This career is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because while AI and robots are taking over some tasks (like mowing open turf), the core of a supervisor's job relies on human skills that machines simply cannot replicate. Leading a crew, building relationships with clients, making judgment calls during unexpected situations like storm damage, and mentoring new workers all require the kind of people skills and adaptability that AI cannot replace.

Learn more about how you can thrive in this position

View analysis
Chat with Coach
Latest news
More career info
Analysis
Chat
News
More

This role is mostly resilient

This career is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because while AI and robots are taking over some tasks (like mowing open turf), the core of a supervisor's job relies on human skills that machines simply cannot replicate. Leading a crew, building relationships with clients, making judgment calls during unexpected situations like storm damage, and mentoring new workers all require the kind of people skills and adaptability that AI cannot replace.

Read full analysis

Learn more about how you can thrive in this position

View analysis
Chat with Coach
Latest news
More career info
Analysis
Chat
News
More

Analysis of Current AI Resilience

Landscaping Supervisors

Updated Quarterly

Analysis
Suggested Actions
State of Automation

How is AI changing Landscaping Supervisors jobs?

Right now, AI is mostly augmenting — not replacing — landscape supervisors. The biggest shift is happening with autonomous mowers. According to a trade publication report, one of the most significant advancements in autonomous mowing is the shift from traditional boundary wires to GPS and real-time kinematic (RTK) technology, along with a sophisticated blend of cameras and computer vision, inertial measurement units, ultrasonic and lidar sensors, and precision mapping.

These machines now travel with crews from site to site as "your next team member" [1], letting supervisors deploy people on detail work while a robot handles open turf. A May 2026 industry analysis [2] notes the industry is moving from "rule-based automation" to spatially intelligent systems using AI vision and RTK positioning.

Supervisors' administrative tasks are also being augmented. NALP's 2026 report found that 62% of commercial landscape companies are using seven or more software systems, with the most common being accounting, invoicing, estimating, marketing automation, payroll, GPS tracking, and end-to-end business management. AI design tools are also gaining traction — though industry experts emphasize that contractors "need AI to be a helper, not a doer" [1], assisting with imaging, CAD drawings, and estimates rather than running the job.

Reveal More
AI Adoption

How fast is AI adoption growing for Landscaping Supervisors?

Adoption pressure is strong but uneven. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects [3] about 171,600 grounds-maintenance openings per year through 2034 — a chronic labor gap that pushes employers toward automation. NALP's survey confirms this: 54% cite recruiting and retaining staff as a major business risk, and 70% plan to raise wages, while the top reasons companies change software are to automate workflows (58%) and improve operational efficiency (51%).

Still, full adoption will be slow. Commercial autonomous mowers cost tens of thousands of dollars, and the work itself is messy, weather-exposed, and unpredictable — areas where humans still excel. The World Economic Forum's outlook [4] projects a net 78 million new roles by 2030 even as 22% of jobs change structurally, with human-centered skills remaining highly valued.

That's good news for you: supervisors who can lead crews, talk with clients, troubleshoot equipment, and learn new software will likely become more valuable, not less. The robot can mow the lawn, but it can't mentor a new hire, calm an upset homeowner, or decide what to do when a storm flattens a job site.

Sources

Reveal More
Will AI replace Landscaping Supervisors?

Will AI replace Landscaping Supervisors?

No. We don't think AI will replace First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers, though we do expect the job to change.

Our scorecard gives this role a 51.9% AI Resilience Score, which puts it in "Mostly Resilient" territory. The biggest shift already underway is autonomous mowing. GPS and computer-vision systems now let robots handle open turf while crews focus on detail work [1]. Administrative tasks are also getting automated, with the majority of commercial landscape companies running seven or more software systems for scheduling, estimating, and payroll. AI is genuinely changing the day-to-day, but it is augmenting supervisors, not replacing them.

What stays human is the core of the supervisor role: managing crews, reading a job site after a storm, keeping clients calm, and making judgment calls that no algorithm handles well. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects roughly 171,600 grounds-maintenance openings per year through 2034 [3], driven partly by a chronic labor shortage that pushes companies toward automation tools rather than eliminating management roles. The World Economic Forum projects net job growth globally even as roles shift structurally [4].

If you are considering this path, the move is to get comfortable with new software and autonomous equipment early. Supervisors who can lead people and manage machines will be the ones companies compete to hire.

Reveal More
Career Village Logo

Help us improve this report.

Tell us if this analysis feels accurate or we missed something.

Share your feedback

Your Career Starts Here

Navigate your career with COACH, your free AI Career Coach. Research-backed, designed with career experts.

Explore careers

Plan your next steps

Get resume help

Find jobs

Explore careers

Plan your next steps

Get resume help

Find jobs

Explore careers

Plan your next steps

Get resume help

Find jobs

Career Village Logo

Ask a pro on CareerVillage.org. Free career advice from more than 200,000 professionals.

Latest AI news for Landscaping Supervisors

These articles highlight how AI can enhance the role of First-Line Supervisors in landscaping. For instance, AI can assist in real-time decision-making to manage resources effectively, helping supervisors meet project targets. Additionally, understanding the automation risk score of 53/100 can prepare supervisors for the changes ahead, emphasizing the importance of adapting skills to leverage AI tools. Embracing these technologies can lead to increased efficiency and profitability in the landscaping industry, fostering resilience in your career.

More Career Info

Career: First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers

They oversee teams that maintain and beautify outdoor spaces, ensuring tasks like mowing and planting are done correctly and safely.

Employment & Wage Data

Median Wage

$56,170

Jobs (2024)

224,700

Growth (2024-34)

+2.3%

Annual Openings

23,200

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Experience

Less than 5 years

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034

Task-Level AI Resilience Scores

AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years

1

95% ResilienceSupplemental

Tour grounds, such as parks, botanical gardens, cemeteries, or golf courses, to inspect conditions of plants and soil.

2

93% ResilienceCore Task

Inventory supplies of tools, equipment, or materials to ensure that sufficient supplies are available and items are in usable condition.

3

92% ResilienceCore Task

Plant or maintain vegetation through activities such as mulching, fertilizing, watering, mowing, or pruning.

4

90% ResilienceCore Task

Direct activities of workers who perform duties such as landscaping, cultivating lawns, or pruning trees and shrubs.

5

90% ResilienceCore Task

Perform administrative duties, such as authorizing leaves or processing time sheets.

6

85% ResilienceCore Task

Establish and enforce operating procedures and work standards that will ensure adequate performance and personnel safety.

7

85% ResilienceCore Task

Review contracts or work assignments to determine service, machine, or workforce requirements for jobs.

Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.

The AI Resilience Report is a project from CareerVillage.org®, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Built with ❤️ by Sandbox Web

The AI Resilience Report is governed by CareerVillage.org’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. This site is not affiliated with Anthropic, Microsoft, or any other data provider and doesn't necessarily represent their viewpoints. This site is being actively updated, and may sometimes contain errors or require improvement in wording or data. To report an error or request a change, please contact air@careervillage.org.