Employees in the Alabama Green Industry work with and for the land. When you step outside, virtually everything you see that isn’t asphalt has been touched at some point by someone in the nursery and landscape industry. By making such a positive impact on the environment, it’s hard for industry professionals not to love what they do.
As Chinese philosopher Confucius once said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” This is what being a horticulturist is all about.
Professional opportunities in the nursery and landscape industry aren’t very familiar to most people, and therefore may not seem that exciting. How much do you know about these professions? I bet you know less than you think you do. Can you tell MYTH from FACT?
Top 5 Myths About Green Industry Careers:
MYTH #5: It’s only digging in the dirt.
Not really. While it’s true that many jobs in this industry are hands-on, technology is a big part of the nursery and landscape industry. Not only that, but there are many occupations to choose from! You can choose a career path in construction, retail, arboriculture, landscape management, and more.
MYTH #4: These jobs don’t pay well.
Think again. You can earn a great living as a nursery and landscape industry professional! Wages vary by region, but depending on which career path you choose, you could potentially make more than $100,000 a year and even open your own business.
MYTH #3: It’s only a summer job.
Not true. There are many career paths to follow once you enter the nursery and landscape industry – and the jobs are not just seasonal! You can get a certificate or degree from a 2- or 4-year college, work your way up into management, or even someday start your own business.
MYTH #2: It’s not a prestigious industry.
Guess again. Consider if you became the head of landscape management at Disney World™, an exclusive island resort, or even The White House! Or maybe you will design a healing garden offering comfort to cancer patients at an area hospital. Perhaps you will create a treatment that stops pests, such as the Emerald Ash Borer, from killing hundreds of thousands of trees across the country. Those flowers that line the Miracle Mile in Chicago had to be grown by someone, why not you? Maybe you will care for the sports turf of your favorite professional or collegiate team. The possibilities are endless.
MYTH #1: It’s a waste of a college education.
Hardly. Nursery and landscape careers require individuals with a strong academic foundation of literacy, chemistry, biology, mathematical and analytical skills, not to mention creativity, problem solving, coordination, and most importantly, passion! Many employers in the nursery and landscape industry desire candidates with a 2- or 4-year college degree. Some positions require advanced degrees.
