BLS wage data says landscapers in Iowa earn $16.94/hr. That's 9.1% below the national average. Here's what that means for your bids.
BLS Hourly Wage
$16.94
Customer Rate
$36–$49/hr
Markup Factor
2.5x
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2023. Customer rate = wage × markup.
Iowa
National Avg
| Service | Iowa Price Range |
|---|---|
| Lawn mowing (average lot, weekly) | $36–$73 |
| Seasonal cleanup (spring/fall) | $136–$364 |
| Mulching (per cubic yard installed) | $55–$109 |
| Shrub trimming and pruning | $45–$136 |
| Sod installation (per 1,000 sq ft) | $364–$818 |
| Flower bed design and planting | $273–$1364 |
| Retaining wall (per linear ft) | $23–$68 |
| Irrigation system install | $2273–$4546 |
| Full landscape design-build | $2728–$13638 |
Prices adjusted from national averages using Iowa BLS wage data. Your local market may vary.
Pre-loaded with Iowa rates. Enter your job's square footage and type to get a starting price.
Estimated per-job price for Iowa (—–—/hr effective rate)
Based on BLS wage data for Iowa (IA). Rates reflect state-level labor costs.
Based on BLS wage data, landscapers in Iowa typically charge between $36 and $49 per hour. The actual rate depends on the job type, scope, and whether materials are included.
Landscaping labor costs in Iowa are 9.1% below the national average. The BLS-reported hourly wage in Iowa is $16.94, compared to $18.63 nationally.
Start with your labor cost ($16.94/hr in Iowa), apply a 2.5x markup to cover overhead, supplies, insurance, and profit. That puts your customer-facing rate around $36–$49/hr. Then adjust for job scope: complex jobs command higher rates.
The biggest factors are metro vs. rural (cities within Iowa can vary 30–40%), job complexity, and recurring vs. one-time work. Recurring contracts cost less per visit because there's no re-quoting or onboarding.
BidMaker pre-fills Iowa pricing into your proposal. Describe the job, get a quote in minutes.
Start for freeFree plan: 3 proposals/month. No credit card.
Win the job with a professional proposal — not a text quote or a PDF nobody reads.
Looking for national averages? Landscaping Pricing Guide (National) →