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Associate Park Service Worker for In-House Tree Planting

Dept of Parks & Recreation · Queens · Full-time · 3 openings

$66,000 a year

Posted until October 9, 2026 · posted September 25, 2026

Requirements

License or certificate

Exam

Civil service exam title

≈ $31.73 an hour · $2,538 every 2 weeks, before taxes (40-hour weeks).

NYC minimum wage is $17/hr. This beats it by $14.73/hr, with health insurance and a pension on top.

What you'd have made

$2,530 If you'd started this job 2 weeks ago, at this pay, before taxes.

An hour of this job pays for about 10.5 subway rides ($3 fare).

Price anything in hours of this job

255 people had this title in the city's fiscal year 2025. Their base pay:
  • This posting starts at $66,000
  • Half of them earn at least $60,715
  • The top 10% earn at least $60,969

Overtime added $4,246 on average that year, and it isn't guaranteed. Base salary of active employees paid a yearly rate, fiscal year 2025 (July 2024 to June 2025). Source: NYC's payroll data

Check yourself

What they actually ask for.

A license or certificate is part of the requirements

  1. A four-year high school diploma or its education equivalent and 6 months of full-time satisfactory paid experience in gardening, grounds or tree maintenance, or in the building, construction or maintenance trades; or
  2. One year of full-time experience in gardening, grounds or tree maintenance, or in the building, construction or maintenance trades; or

License Requirement:

Possession of a Class B Commercial Driver License valid in the State of New York.

There may be certain age requirements to obtain this license. Employees must maintain the Class B Commercial Driver License during their employment.

Quoted word for word from the official posting. The label above is ours, read from this text; if they disagree, this text wins.

The work

What the job is.

Hands-on / tradeOutdoor work
  • Nights or evenings

    “Ability to work evenings and weekends.”

  • Weekends

    “Ability to work evenings and weekends.”

  • Driver license

    “Possession of a valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License issued by the State of New York.”

  • Commercial license (CDL)

    “Possession of a valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License issued by the State of New York.”

  • Fieldwork or outdoors

    “Willingness to work in inclement weather and ability to perform physically demanding tasks.”

Read from the posting. Tap one to see the line it came from.

*ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT FULL-TIME ANNUALLY PAID PARKS EMPLOYEES*

*This vacancy is only open to

  1. current permanent Parks employees serving in the Associate Park Service Worker civil service title or
  2. on leave from the title.
Read the rest, from the posting

The mission of NYC Parks is to plan resilient and sustainable parks, public spaces, and recreational amenities, build a park system for present and future generations, and care for parks and public spaces.

Environment and Planning works to protect, restore, expand, and manage New York City’s green spaces and natural areas to maximize their benefits for environmental and community health and resilience.

Environment and Planning is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff and we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Major Responsibilities

  • Under general supervision, performs and/or supervises personnel engaged in tree maintenance and operational duties.
  • Operates a wide range of heavy-duty vehicles and powered field equipment, including trucks, trailers, tractors, loaders, mowers, weed whackers, snow blowers, chainsaws and more.
  • Participates in assigned projects as directed, including construction, concrete demolition and removal, soil removal, planting, pruning, tree loading and unloading, and spreading of soil, mulch and compost.
  • Assists with maintenance checks and repairs of tools, equipment, and vehicles; performs routine servicing, including tire changes.
  • Operates and maintains hand and power gardening tools and equipment.
  • Performs various landscaping, planting and tree maintenance tasks.
  • Assists in maintaining accurate records, including work orders, timesheets and other documentation.
  • Periodically trains or supervises employees and/or volunteer crews as needed.
Work Location
Olmsted Center, Queens

How to Apply: Go to cityjobs.nyc.gov and search for Job ID# 787779.

All applicants must apply via cityjobs.nyc.gov. The City is no longer using ESS to accept applications.

Current Employees please include your ERN on your cover letter and resume.

NOTE: All resumes must be received no later than the last day of the posting period. *Posting period extended to 10/09/2026. Previous applicants are still under consideration and need not reapply.

References will be required upon request. Fees: Hired candidates will be subject to a processing fee between $40.00 to $101.00 based on the salary range of title. Hired candidates who are not currently employed by the City will be subject to a $104.50 background check fee.

nyc.gov/parks

MOVEMENT IN THE FACE OF CIVIL SERVICE LISTS IS PROHIBITED UNDER CIVIL SERVICE LAW.

For information about applying for Civil Service Exams go to: Civil Service Exams - Department of Citywide Administrative Services (nyc.gov)

Skills they'd like

  1. Possession of a valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License issued by the State of New York.
  2. Possession of a Class A Commercial Driver’s License with an air brake endorsement.
  3. Minimum of two years of supervisory experience.
  4. Demonstrated experience working with diverse teams in an urban environment.
  5. Proficiency in computer software, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
  6. Strong communication and organizational skills.
  7. Willingness to work in inclement weather and ability to perform physically demanding tasks.
  8. Background in ecological restoration, urban forestry, horticulture, arboriculture, landscape construction, natural area management or a related field.
  9. Ability to work evenings and weekends.

Before you apply

The fine print.

Where you have to live

Residency in New York City, Nassau, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk, Putnam or Westchester counties required for employees with over two years of city service.

New York City residency required within 90 days of hire for all other candidates.

Sources

Straight from the city.

From the city's job data, which the city last updated September 28, 2026. You apply through the official posting.

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