GARDENER CARETAKER 3141

About the role

A Gardener Caretaker performs gardening, landscape construction, and maintenance work in parks, playgrounds, citywide traffic islands, medians, slopes, grade separations, and other landscaped areas.

Note: Gardener Caretakers may be required to work weekends and holidays, can be reassigned to any location in the City, and may need to work overtime or in bad weather.

Pay

Annual salary ranges:

• City of Los Angeles departments: $54,538 to $75,543
• Department of Water and Power: $56,939 to $70,741 and $66,899 to $83,123

Candidates from the eligible list are normally appointed to vacancies in the lower pay grade positions. The current salary range is subject to change; confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.

Responsibilities

• Perform gardening, landscape construction, and maintenance tasks
• Work in various locations including parks, playgrounds, traffic islands, medians, slopes, and other landscaped areas
• Operate hand and power gardening tools and equipment safely
• Identify common types of plants, trees, grasses, and shrubs
• Perform basic custodial tasks
• Read and understand route sheets, labels, soil amendments, and cleaning compounds
• Work as part of a team and interact effectively with the public
• Follow good watering practices and care for common types of plants
• Understand which plants are suitable for the Los Angeles climate
• Use basic cleaning agents and equipment
• Perform basic arithmetic related to the job

Requirements

• Two years of full-time paid gardening experience; or
• 1040 hours of paid experience as a Special Program Assistant performing gardening, park maintenance, or landscape work for the City of Los Angeles

Completion of 12 semester or 18 quarter units from an accredited college or university in gardening, agriculture, or horticulture may substitute for one year of the required experience. Applicants must provide details of their coursework in the application.

As a condition of employment, a valid Class C driver’s license issued by the California DMV is required. Applicants with three or more moving violations, at-fault accidents, or a major moving violation conviction within the last 36 months will be disqualified.

Selection Process

The examination consists of a weighted multiple-choice test (100%) evaluating the following competencies:

• Self-Management
• Equipment Operation
• Customer Service
• Teamwork
• Job Knowledge, including:
  • Good watering practices
  • Care for common types of plants, trees, grasses, and shrubs
  • Suitable plants for the Los Angeles climate
  • Proper storage and use of gardening tools and equipment
  • Safe operation of power equipment
  • Use of cleaning agents and equipment
  • Basic arithmetic
• Ability to:
  • Identify common plants, trees, grasses, and shrubs
  • Perform custodial tasks
  • Read and understand route sheets and labels
  • Work as a team member
  • Interact effectively with the public

The test will be administered online during a single session between October 20, 2026, and October 26, 2026. Candidates must complete the test using a computer with a webcam and reliable internet connection. A final average score of 70% is required to be placed on the eligible list.

Candidates may request disability accommodations by completing the Disability Accommodation Form within 14 days of submitting their application.