Service Associate - Groundskeeper
Orion Real Estate Services
You will be taken to the employer's application page. Listing expires September 5, 2026.
Job Description
JOB SUMMARY
Responsible for daily pool and grounds maintenance for an apartment community.
REPORTS TO
Community Manager and/or Maintenance Supervisor.
SUPERVISES
None.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Remove trash (i.e., papers, cup, cigarette/cigar butts, boxes, pet waste, etc.) from office areas and apartment community common areas daily.
- Clean and maintain pool daily.
- Monitor and maintain proper chemical balance of pool water.
- Update pool logs and/or records.
- Check gates to pool area for proper operation and ensure that they are always secured.
- Clean carpets in vacant and occupied units as directed by Lead Maintenance.
- Water property plants, flowers, and grass in between scheduled visits or in absence of lawn care contractor.
- Report any malfunctions of irrigation system to Maintenance Supervisor and/or Community Manager.
- Power washing as preventative maintenance.
- Trash removal from vacant units.
- Assist Housekeeper with cleaning office, grounds, common areas and vacant apartments
EXPERIENCE OR SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE
Six (6) months stable employment in customer service or another related field. The skills needed for this position can be learned on-the-job.
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND TRAINING
DEGREES AND DIPLOMAS
High School Diploma or equivalent preferred; not required.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATES/ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS
Entry level position. On the job training is available. Must have certifications/permits required by the city or state to perform job responsibilities (i.e., pool operations).
SPECIFIC SKILLS/EQUIPMENT
- Carpet/Steam cleaning machine/Wet-Dry Vacuum, preferred.
- Broom/rake and Leaf/Trash blowing machine.
- Pool chemical testing procedures and kits, preferred.
- Previous experience with tools/equipment needed for apartment make ready duties preferred.
What Most Landscapers Job Listings Don't Tell You
General overview for this role type; specifics vary by employer.
Most landscaping and lawn roles do not require a state license, though anyone applying fertilizers or weed control commercially may need a Department of Agriculture applicator license. Irrigation work is separate and does require a licensed installer in Texas. That mix means the field has room for entry hands and specialized pros side by side. Pay is usually hourly, with crew leads and irrigation techs earning more, and design-build roles paying the best.
The work is outdoor and seasonal, but Houston's long growing season keeps crews busy most of the year. Spring and summer mean heavy mowing and planting. Fall brings cleanup and installs. New hires underestimate the heat and the early starts. Crews roll out at dawn to beat the afternoon sun. You run mowers, trimmers, and blowers, load and unload trailers, and handle plants, mulch, and stone. Reliability and a willingness to learn equipment and plant care open the path to lead and maintenance-manager roles.
What to Expect Day-to-Day
General overview for this role type; specifics vary by employer.
Maintenance crews load the trailer at dawn and run a route of properties. At each stop you mow, edge, trim hedges, blow clippings, and clear beds so the property looks sharp. Speed and consistency matter because crews hit many stops in a day and the same yards every week.
Install and design work is a different pace. You dig beds, set plants, lay sod, spread mulch, and build hardscape features like walkways and retaining walls. Irrigation techs troubleshoot controllers, replace heads, and fix leaks in the line. Across all of it you maintain equipment, keep blades sharp, and manage fuel and safety gear. Customer interaction is lighter than in other trades, but a crew lead still communicates with property owners about scope and timing. Expect sun, heat, dust, and physical labor from start to finish, balanced by visible, satisfying results at the end of each property.
What Landscapers Jobs Pay in Houston
Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area (Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area. Median is about $17.44/hr.
Building a Landscaping Career in Texas
Most mowing and maintenance work needs no state license. Two paths do require one. Applying fertilizer or weed control for hire can require a Texas Department of Agriculture applicator license, and installing irrigation systems requires a licensed irrigator through the state environmental agency. Backflow testing on irrigation is a further certification. That means a maintenance hand can start with no license, while specialized and design-build roles reward certification. The path moves from crew work into lead, then into irrigation, chemical, or design specialties that pay more.
Career Ladder and Pay
- 1 Crew Member $33,821/yr
Mow, edge, trim, and plant while learning equipment and plant care.
- 2 Crew Lead $36,275/yr
Run a maintenance crew and manage routes and quality.
- 3 Irrigation / Chemical Specialist $39,707/yr
Hold an irrigator or applicator license for higher-value work.
- 4 Designer / Account Manager $39,707/yr
Design installs and manage commercial landscape accounts.
- 5 Landscape Company Owner $46,696/yr
Run a maintenance or design-build company and manage crews.
Licensing paths and timelines are general guidance for this trade in Texas. Confirm current requirements with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation or the relevant state agency.
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