Nature & Environment

Greenkeeper / Golf- und Sportrasenspezialist/in

You maintain and care for golf and sports turf using expert knowledge and technical skills.

Greenkeeper / Golf- und Sportrasenspezialist/in

01 · Overview

What this profession is about

Greenkeepers maintain golf courses and sports facilities. You combine plant knowledge with machine operation skills for perfect lawns.

Perfect lawns are essential on golf courses and sports facilities. Greenkeeper und Greenkeeperinnen ensure this quality with expert knowledge and technical skill. You care for the soil, plant new grasses, and maintain special machines. This job combines a love of nature with precise outdoor work.

FieldNature & Environment
Education pathSpecialisation / Professional Function
IndustryHorticulture
Swissdoc 0.150.15.0

02 · Salary

What you can earn

MedianCHF 65'000
CHF 39'200CHF 106'500
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Horticulteur-paysagiste. Based on 1,260 observations, updated 7 months ago.

Salary by experience

60k70kmedian 65k60k61k65k66k72k78k0-2 yrs3-5 yrs6-8 yrs9-11 yrs12-21 yrs21+ yrs
View as table
ExperienceSalary (CHF)
0-2 yrsCHF 59'800
3-5 yrsCHF 61'126
6-8 yrsCHF 65'000
9-11 yrsCHF 66'000
12-21 yrsCHF 72'000
21+ yrsCHF 78'000

Salary trend

+9% over decade
62k64k66k68k62k64k63k68k2014-20162017-20192020-20222023-2025
View as table
PeriodSalary (CHF)
2014-2016CHF 62'400
2017-2019CHF 63'700
2020-2022CHF 63'087
2023-2025CHF 68'030

Top earning cantons

  • Basel-StadtCHF 71'50026 obs.
  • SchwyzCHF 69'80014 obs.
  • St. GallenCHF 69'04450 obs.
  • SolothurnCHF 67'92019 obs.
  • ZurichCHF 67'613175 obs.
  • LucerneCHF 67'00041 obs.
View as table
CantonSalaryObs.
Basel-StadtCHF 71'50026
SchwyzCHF 69'80014
St. GallenCHF 69'04450
SolothurnCHF 67'92019
ZurichCHF 67'613175
LucerneCHF 67'00041

Top paying industries

  • Catering / HotelCHF 136'0009 obs.
  • Retail trade / WholesalingCHF 117'72012 obs.
  • Public administration / AssociationsCHF 81'57563 obs.
  • Consulting variousCHF 75'00015 obs.
  • Health care / Social servicesCHF 75'00011 obs.
  • Building trade / Real estateCHF 67'000434 obs.
View as table
IndustrySalaryObs.
Catering / HotelCHF 136'0009
Retail trade / WholesalingCHF 117'72012
Public administration / AssociationsCHF 81'57563
Consulting variousCHF 75'00015
Health care / Social servicesCHF 75'00011
Building trade / Real estateCHF 67'000434

03 · Pathway

How to enter and grow

Swiss training pathway available in the full profile

  • 🎓 Greenkeeper

Official education path

Training is provided through the Swiss Greenkeeper Association SGA by recognized schools or through several years of professional experience in related fields.

Prerequisites

  • Berufliche Grundbildung als Gärtner/in Garten- und Landschaftsbau
  • Berufliche Grundbildung als Landwirt/in
  • Berufliche Grundbildung als Forstwart/in
  • Mehrjährige Erfahrung in diesen Bereichen
  • Gärtnerin (BP) Wahlmodul Golfrasen

Requirements

  • Enjoyment of precise work in nature
  • Flair for technology and machines
  • Customer orientation
  • Independence
  • Flexibility
  • Endurance
  • Good physical condition

Where this can lead

Career changers with several years of experience in garden and landscape maintenance can specialize via the elective module Golf turf.

04 · Skills & fit

What it takes

Required skills

  • Love of nature
  • Technical understanding
  • Precision
  • Physical endurance

Personality fit

  • Swiss career path
  • Career transition
  • Professional growth

05 · Daily reality

What the work feels like

Typical day

You are on the course early in the morning. You check the irrigation systems before you mow the first fairways.

  • You maintain and renew golf course facilities according to professional standards.
  • You check the irrigation systems and fertilize the soil.
  • You plant new grass varieties and flower beds correctly.
  • You regularly maintain and repair the special lawn machines.
  • You monitor plant pests and treat the areas specifically.
  • You coordinate work processes in the team for smooth operations.

Working conditions

You work exclusively outdoors on golf courses, sports facilities, or parks. The area features wide lawns and technical equipment.

Where to learn

Strengths

  • Love of nature
  • Technical understanding
  • Precision
  • Physical endurance

Trade-offs

  • Weather dependency
  • Physical strain
  • Early working hours
  • Chemical exposure

06 · Similar

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