LANDSCAPING COSTS · BISMARCK, ND
Landscaping Labor Rates in Bismarck: Is $100 an Hour Too Much?
Not always. It depends on what the $100 covers. If it’s $100 an hour for a two-person crew, that’s $50 per worker-hour, which sits at the low end of what landscaping businesses charge nationally in 2026. If it’s $100 an hour for one person with a rake and a wheelbarrow, that’s at the high end. If a skid steer or other big machine is included, $100 an hour can be reasonable.
The hourly rate isn’t the worker’s wage. In Bismarck, the median landscaping worker earns about $22 an hour. The rest of the rate pays for taxes, workers’ comp, insurance, trucks, equipment, drive time, overhead and profit.
LOCAL WORKER WAGES
What Landscape Workers Earn in Bismarck
Here’s the federal wage data for the Bismarck metro area, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | Bismarck metro |
|---|---|
| Jobs | About 320 |
| Median wage | $22.27 an hour ($46,310 a year) |
| Bottom 10% earn under | $32,100 a year, about $15.43 an hour |
| Top 10% earn over | $60,320 a year, about $29.00 an hour |
| U.S. median, for comparison | $39,150 a year, about $18.82 an hour |
Bismarck’s median for these workers runs about 18% above the national median. The hourly figures for the 10th and 90th percentiles are our math, based on a 2,080-hour work year.
For context, the BLS’s Bismarck release from July 22, 2026 put the average wage across all jobs in Bismarck at $31.07 an hour, and the building and grounds maintenance group at $20.25.
WHAT THE HOURLY RATE COVERS
Why the Rate Is Much Higher Than the Wage
A worker’s paycheck is only part of what a landscaping company pays to put that worker in your yard.
- Payroll taxes. Social Security and Medicare add about 7.65% on top of wages.
- Workers’ comp. North Dakota is a monopolistic state, so every employer buys workers’ comp from one state fund, Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI). Employers need it before they hire their first worker.
- Unemployment taxes and liability insurance.
- Licenses and insurance for certain work. In Bismarck, commercial tree work requires a city arborist license, which calls for $2,000,000 in liability insurance. Jobs over $4,000 need a state contractor license.
- Trucks, trailers, fuel and equipment. Mowers, sod cutters, compactors and skid steers all cost money to buy, fix and haul.
- Drive time and loading time that nobody bills for directly.
- Dump fees. At the Bismarck Landfill, for example, clean wood costs $40 a ton.
- Time that isn’t billed: estimates, rain days, repairs and paperwork.
- A short season. Most landscape work in Bismarck happens between spring thaw and fall freeze-up.
- Profit. Landscape software company Aspire says most landscapers aim for a 15% to 20% profit margin.
A SAMPLE BREAKDOWN
The Math on One Worker-Hour
Here’s a simple example. It uses the Bismarck median wage and the labor-cost breakdown from Aspire’s man-hour pricing guide (August 2026). Aspire’s example adds payroll taxes, workers’ comp, unemployment, other costs and management time to a $20 wage and gets $26.08, about 1.3 times the wage.
| Step | Per worker-hour |
|---|---|
| Median Bismarck wage | $22.27 |
| Wage plus taxes, comp and other labor costs (about 1.3×) | About $29 |
| Plus trucks, equipment, insurance, office and drive time | Varies by company |
| Plus profit, often 15% to 20% | Varies |
This is our illustration, not a real company’s books. Workers’ comp rates and overhead vary a lot by company and type of work. But it shows why a business paying $22 an hour usually can’t charge $30 an hour and stay open.
NATIONAL BENCHMARKS
National Rates to Compare
Aspire’s August 2026 guide says, “Most landscaping business owners charge $50–$100+ per hour for lawn maintenance and landscaping jobs.” It cites:
| Source cited by Aspire | Hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Thumbtack national average | $50 to $65 |
| GreenPal survey | Most charge about $60 |
| Industry coach Keith Kalfas | $78 to $100 |
These are national figures, usually per worker-hour, not per crew. Since Bismarck’s landscaping wages run above the national median, local rates aren’t likely to be lower.
IS $100 REASONABLE?
So, Is $100 an Hour Too Much?
Ask three questions:
| Question | If yes | If no |
|---|---|---|
| Is it for a crew of two or more? | $100 is $50 or less per person, on the low side | $100 for one person is on the high end |
| Does it include a machine, like a skid steer or sod cutter? | Often fair | Hand-tool work should usually cost less |
| Are dump fees, drive time and materials included? | Better value | Ask what gets added on |
The best test isn’t the hourly rate at all. It’s the total price for the finished job, compared across two or three written quotes.
COMPARE QUOTE TYPES
Hourly vs Fixed-Price Quotes
| Hourly | Fixed price | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small, unclear jobs, like cleanup or “get done what you can” | Defined jobs, like a patio, sod or a retaining wall |
| Your risk | Slow crew or surprises cost you more | Little. The price is set unless the scope changes. |
| Their risk | Low | Bad estimating costs them |
| What to get in writing | Rate, crew size, minimum and billing increments | Exactly what’s included and what isn’t |
For bigger projects, a fixed price in writing is usually safer for the homeowner. See how much landscaping costs in Bismarck for typical job prices.
BEFORE YOU AGREE
What to Ask Before You Agree to an Hourly Rate
Is the rate per person or per crew? How many people are coming?
- Is there a minimum charge, and do you bill in 15-minute, 30-minute or hourly blocks?
- Does the clock start at your shop, at my curb or when work begins?
- Are dump fees, fuel or trailer charges extra?
- Are materials marked up, and by how much?
- Do you have workers’ comp through WSI and liability insurance?
- For tree work, are you on the City of Bismarck’s licensed arborist list?
- For jobs over $4,000, are you licensed with the North Dakota Secretary of State?
- Can I get a not-to-exceed number?
If a crew wants cash only, won’t put the rate in writing or has no insurance, keep looking. See how to choose a landscaper in Bismarck.
Questions
Landscaping Labor Rate FAQ
Answers about hourly landscaping costs, wages, and written quotes in Bismarck.
Questions about a project price?
Call and talk through the work before making a decision.
How much do landscapers charge per hour in Bismarck?
There’s no published Bismarck-only figure. Nationally, Aspire’s August 2026 guide says most landscaping businesses charge $50 to $100 or more per worker-hour. Bismarck landscaping wages run about 18% above the national median, so local rates aren’t likely to be lower.
Is $100 an hour too much for landscaping?
Not if it covers a crew of two or more, or includes a machine like a skid steer. That’s about $50 per worker-hour, at the low end of national rates. For one person with hand tools, $100 an hour is on the high end. Compare total job prices, not just hourly rates.
How much do landscape workers make in Bismarck?
The median landscaping and groundskeeping worker in the Bismarck metro earned $22.27 an hour, or $46,310 a year, in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The top 10% earned over $60,320 a year.
Why do landscapers charge so much more than they pay workers?
The rate also covers payroll taxes, workers’ comp, insurance, licenses, trucks, equipment, fuel, dump fees, drive time and unbilled hours, plus profit. In Aspire’s example, labor alone costs about 1.3 times the wage before any equipment or overhead.
Is it better to pay by the hour or by the job?
For defined projects like a patio, sod or a wall, a fixed price in writing is usually safer, because surprises are the contractor’s risk. Hourly works for small, open-ended jobs like cleanup. Either way, get the terms in writing.
Do landscapers in North Dakota need workers’ comp?
Employers do. North Dakota is a monopolistic state, so employers must get workers’ comp from Workforce Safety and Insurance, the state fund, before hiring their first worker. Sole owners can be exempt. Ask any company that sends a crew for proof of coverage.
Bismarck Landscape
Want a Straight Price?
We give written prices for the whole job, so you know the total before work starts. Call Bismarck Landscape at (701) 299-0740.
See our contact options. For typical job costs, see our pricing page.