What's the average lawn care rate in California?
Across 1 city indexed in California, the median lawn care rate is $51/hr. Hourly ranges span $38/hr to $63/hr depending on the metro and contractor.
Lawn Care costs in California
Cities indexed
1
Hourly range, avg
$38–$63/hr
CA median
$51/hr
vs national
+31%
Lawn Care pricing in California
California features diverse microclimates from coast to desert, which shapes both seasonal demand and the kind of work lawn cares perform locally. The state's market is characterized by highest cost of living affecting labor rates, and contractors operate under CSLB licensing with strict requirements.
Across 1 city indexed in California, lawn care rates average $51/hr — about 31% above the national average of $39/hr.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, adjusted for California cost of living. Read the methodology.
All California cities
1 cityLawn Care in other states
5Frequently asked
6 answersHow do California lawn care rates compare to other states?
California is 31% above the national average of $39/hr for lawn care services. Local wage levels and cost of living drive most of this difference.
Which California city has the highest lawn care rates?
San Jose sits at the top of the California index for lawn care services with rates of $37.92–$63.2/hr.
What drives lawn care pricing in California?
California's market is shaped by diverse microclimates from coast to desert, highest cost of living affecting labor rates, and operates under CSLB licensing with strict requirements. These factors flow through to consumer rates non-uniformly across the state — see the geographic precision note for how local data is sourced.
Are these prices what consumers pay, or what workers earn?
Consumer-facing rates. We apply industry-standard 1.5–2.5× multipliers to BLS hourly wages to account for business overhead, insurance, licensing, employer costs, and profit margin. The full calculation is documented in the wage-to-price methodology.
How is California pricing data updated?
Pricing reflects the BLS OEWS May 2024 release. The next refresh lands when May 2025 data is published in April 2026. Cadence is documented in the update schedule.
Data: BLS OEWS May 2024 · Methodology · Last refreshed January 2026