How much do golf course superintendents earn? The answer might surprise you

There are plenty of ways to get into the golf industry, but if you’re looking for longevity and a solid paycheck, one profession’s average salary may surprise you: a golf course superintendent.

According to a recent survey taken by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the average annual salary for course supers in America is now a whopping $93,000, which is a 4.5 percent increase over last year’s figure, and nearly double the number from 1993.

The upward trend is exemplified by assistants’ salaries too. Assistant superintendents and golf course equipment managers have seen their salaries grow by 7.3 and 7 percent, respectively, on average since 2017.

So what does a golf course superintendent actually do? Generally, he or she is responsible for all course maintenance (caring for the grass and all landscaping, applying pesticides, managing irrigation, etc.) as well as managing the maintenance budget and all of the staff members working on the golf course itself.

Another bonus if you’re thinking of a career as a super? They tend to stick around for a while. According to the survey, a supers’ average age is 46.5, and he or she has spent over 16 years in the profession, with an average of 10.5 years in his or her current position.

And for supers who opted to become “Certified” — that is, meeting certain education and experience requirements — the average salary is even more impressive: $111,250.

The survey cited was sent to all GCSAA (Golf Course Superintendents Association of America) Class A and Class B members between December 2018 and January 2019. The response rate was 45 percent, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.3 percent and a 95 percent level of confidence.

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