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Athletic Field Manager, Golf Course Superintendent, Greenskeeper, Parks and Recreation Manager, Sports Field Manager, Staff Technician
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in operating equipment to apply fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides; and in overseeing the maintenance and repair of mechanical equipment
Interest in co-ordinating information from club authorities to plan and review work projects and priorities; and in arranging for soil tests and purchases of equipment and supplies
Interest in supervising work crews who mix and prepare spray and dust mixtures, and spray and dust golf courses and surrounding landscapes
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
In general, turfgrass management specialists plan, organize, and direct the establishment and management of new and retrofit turfgrass areas. For a golf course or sports field, the main goal is to create a uniform playing surface, keeping players’ safety in mind.
Turfgrass management specialists may work alone, or they may supervise crews that mow, aerate, rake, edge, top-dress, fertilize, and irrigate turf.
Turfgrass management specialists also may:
While some positions are seasonal, turfgrass management specialists may work indoors and outdoors year-round. They often put in irregular hours when the weather warms up.
The work can be strenuous. Lifting heavy items is routine. Safety precautions are a standard part of the job to reduce the health risks associated with handling fertilizers and pesticides.
Turfgrass management specialists need:
They should enjoy:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 100 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Apr 21, 2022 and Jan 29, 2023.
Review these skills to learn:
| Attention to detail | 50 |
|---|---|
| Work Setting: Various locations | 46 |
| Construction Specialization: Reliability | 43 |
| Landscaping Experience: Residential projects | 42 |
| Construction Specialization: Organized | 38 |
| Construction Specialization: Team player | 37 |
| Work Site Environment: Outdoors | 37 |
| Health benefits: Health care plan | 36 |
| Personal Suitability: Team player | 33 |
| Personal Suitability: Reliability | 33 |
Turfgrass management specialists need skills and knowledge related to:
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
Pesticide applicators use pesticides (chemicals) to control pests, such as weeds, diseases or destructive insects or animals, as part of their paid employment.
Pesticide dispensers sell and store pesticides as part of their paid employment.
Under Alberta’s Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act [pdf] and Pesticide (Ministerial) Regulation [pdf], to apply a commercial-class pesticide such as insecticide, herbicide or fungicide you must be one of the following:
To sell pesticides you must be a certified dispenser. The 2 types of dispensers in Alberta are:
For information on what you need and other details, visit the certification profile Pesticide Applicator and Dispenser.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Turfgrass management specialists are employed by private organizations and by departments in all levels of government that manage recreational facilities such as parks, golf courses, and athletic fields.
They may also work with:
In the past, many turfgrass management specialists worked their way up from labour to supervisory positions. Today, graduates of related post-secondary education programs have a better chance of advancement than those without related academic training.
Professionals with bachelor’s degrees in turfgrass science often move into careers in golf course management, athletic field management, landscaping, agrichemical sales, and sports field construction. Those with a master’s or PhD can move into higher positions, including academia or research at chemical companies. There are also research opportunities in large companies for breeding new turfgrass species.
Supervisory roles such as golf course superintendent and operations manager require a few years’ experience. Experienced turfgrass specialists may also start their own consulting or landscape contracting firms. They may have to move to successively larger communities in order to advance.
Turfgrass management specialists are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 2225: Landscape and Horticultural Technicians and Specialists. In Alberta, 84% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:
The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
Assistant and entry-level positions are in high demand in this industry (2019 estimate).
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
In Alberta, the 2225: Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 2.1% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 39 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Earnings for turfgrass management specialists vary considerably depending on their education, experience, location, and responsibilities.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.00 | $37.90 | $21.39 | $18.00 |
| Overall | $18.00 | $42.28 | $23.62 | $20.00 |
| Top | $20.00 | $43.71 | $26.82 | $24.00 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| Public Administration | $84,226 |
|---|---|
| Information, Culture, Recreation | $66,899 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $64,914 |
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $38,302 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | $28,951 |
Alberta Ministry of Environment and Parks website: www.alberta.ca/ministry-environment-parks.aspx
Alberta Golf Superintendents Association (AGSA) website: www.albertagsa.com
Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) website: golfsupers.com
Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association website: www.landscape-alberta.com
National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) website: www.landscapeprofessionals.org
Western Canada Turfgrass Association (WCTA) website: www.wctaturf.com
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2019. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.