How long does it take to become a Crew Leader?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a crew leader. That is the time it takes to learn specific crew leader skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

How To Become A Crew Leader: What It Is and Career Path

What is a crew leader and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A crew leader manages a team of workers in a variety of industries including construction, landscaping, and manufacturing. They are responsible for ensuring that each team member performs their duties effectively. Crew leaders ensure that safety protocols are followed, deadlines are met, and quality standards are maintained at all times. They must have strong communication and problem-solving skills to effectively communicate with and support their team members.

ScoreCrew LeaderUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $37,983

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

8.6

Growth Rate 18%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.11%

Asian 1.46%

Black or African American 5.93%

Hispanic or Latino 20.72%

Unknown 3.91%

White 66.87%

Gender

female 28.60%

male 71.40%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress Level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.4

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.1

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Crew Leader?

Pros

Opportunity to lead and mentor a team
Potential for career advancement within the company
Higher salary and benefits compared to regular crew members
Sense of accomplishment in completing projects successfully
Ability to make decisions and have a significant impact on the job site

Cons

Heavy workload with long hours and tight deadlines
Increased responsibility and accountability
Need to manage conflicts among team members
High stress levels due to managing multiple tasks simultaneously
Potential for burnout due to high levels of responsibility and stress

Key steps to become a crew leader

Explore crew leader education requirements

Most common crew leader degrees

High School Diploma

36.1 %

Bachelor's

31.3 %

Associate

17.4 %

Start to develop specific crew leader skills

Skills	Percentages
CDL	12.12%
Safety Procedures	10.18%
CPR	9.55%
Cleanliness	9.22%
Customer Service	6.52%

Complete relevant crew leader training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New crew leaders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a crew leader based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real crew leader resumes.

Gain additional crew leader certifications

Crew leader certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific crew leader certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for crew leaders include OSHA Safety Certificate and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

More About Certifications

Research crew leader duties and responsibilities

Manage 3-6 mow crews that vary from 2-6 on a crew.
Manage crews for mowing residents and businesses
Use hand tools such as clippers, shovels, racks, pruning saws, bush trimmers, and hedge trimmers.
Complete safety training programs first aid, OSHA and CPR.

Get crew leader experience

Generally, it takes more than 10 years to become a crew leader. The most common roles before becoming a crew leader include cashier, crew member team lead and sales associate.

Prepare your crew leader resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your crew leader resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a crew leader resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Crew Leader Resume templates

Build a professional Crew Leader resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Crew Leader resume.

Apply for crew leader jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a crew leader job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do crew leaders rate their job?

What is a crew leader and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a Crew Leader?

Crew Leader career paths