GARDENER CARETAKER 3141

Annual salary ranges: $54,538 to $75,543. Within the Department of Water and Power, the salary ranges are $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.

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

Responsibilities

• Perform gardening, landscape construction, and maintenance tasks.
• Work in various locations including parks, playgrounds, traffic islands, medians, slopes, and grade separations.
• 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 a member of a team and deal effectively with the public.
• Follow good watering practices and properly care for plants, trees, grasses, and shrubs.
• Use basic cleaning agents and equipment.
• Apply knowledge of plants suitable for the Los Angeles climate.

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.
• Valid Class C driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) at the time of appointment.
• Applicants with three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation within the last 36 months in any state or jurisdiction will be disqualified.

Process Notes

• Vocational Workers (Gardener Caretakers) with the City of Los Angeles and applicants using the Special Program Assistant experience must submit a "Verification of Work Experience" (VWE) form. The form must be submitted within seven calendar days of the online application submission.
• Qualifying education must be from a college or university accredited by a City of Los Angeles recognized agency.
• Candidates may be required to provide proof of qualifying coursework if using education to substitute for experience.

Selection Process

• The examination consists of a weighted multiple-choice test (100%) evaluating competencies such as:
  • Self-Management
  • Equipment Operation
  • Customer Service
  • Teamwork
  • Job Knowledge (e.g., watering practices, plant care, tool operation, safety, basic arithmetic)
  • Ability to identify plants, perform custodial tasks, read labels, and work effectively with the public.
• The test will be administered and proctored online between Tuesday, October 20, 2026 and Monday, 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.
• Reasonable accommodations for disabilities will be provided upon request.