Plant the seeds for this growing career!
If you love biology class, find photosynthesis fascinating, or long to spend time outdoors with your hands in the soil, a career in nursery and greenhouse production could be the profession for you.
Jobs in the nursery and greenhouse sector are abundant and offer the opportunity to work with many types of plants, both well known and exotic. From azaleas to zinnias, people working in nursery and greenhouse production can specialize in a wide variety of plants and production systems.
Insider tip: nurseries and greenhouses are not the same thing.
- Nurseries are businesses that grow trees, shrubs and perennials outdoors.
- Greenhouses are businesses that grow annuals, perennials and foliage (think flowers and plants) indoors.
- Nurseries and greenhouses are typically wholesale businesses, but there are also retail garden centers which grow their own plants for sale directly to homeowners.
Explore these career paths! |
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Career Paths
Nursery/Greenhouse Worker
Duties:
- Plant, prune and control weeds
- Fertilize and control pests
- Harvest plants
- Experienced nursery and greenhouse workers may also supervise seasonal crews and manage order fulfillment
Education:
- High school education preferred
- Two-year technical college certificate a bonus
- Training provided by employer, but experience is helpful
Pay:
- Seasonal positions: $8 to $18 per hour
- Full-time, year-round positions: $25,000 to $50,000 per year (plus benefits)
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Nursery/Greenhouse Production
Duties:
- Plant, prune, fertilize and harvest, and direct others in these activities, too
- Provide training and work direction to assistant production persons and seasonal employees
- Direct shipping operations
- Operate necessary equipment (soil mixers, potting machines, seeders and cultivators)
Education:
- High school diploma
- Two-year technical college certificate in horticulture
Pay:
- Seasonal positions: $8 to $18 per hour
- Full-time, year-round positions: $25,000 to $70,000 per year (plus benefits)
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Crop Protection/Equipment Maintenance
Duties:
- Identify pests
- Develop control strategies, procurement and inventory of pest control and fertilizer products
- Conduct training programs to protect pest control workers
- Perform equipment maintenance and soil management
- Provide work direction and training to assistant nursery workers and seasonal employees
Education:
- High school diploma
- Two-year technical college certificate in horticulture
Pay:
- Seasonal positions: $8 to $18 per hour
- Full-time, year-round positions: $25,000 to $70,000 per year (plus benefits)
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Manager of Production and Crop Protection
Duties:
- Direct all aspects of nursery or greenhouse production
- Develop and implement crop protection program
- Manage all aspects of human resources in production areas
- Coordinate equipment and resource needs
- Manage inventory and availability systems to ensure accuracy
- Assist in purchasing and receiving
- Develop and manage operating budget
Education Requirement:
Bachelor’s degree in horticulture
Pay:
$30,000 to $70,000 per year (plus benefits)
