As with all fields, the more education you have, the more experience you get under your belt, the more effort you put into becoming an expert in your field, the more talented you are, and the harder you work...the more successful you can become. I'm going to emphasize the 'experience' aspect of horticulture positions. I've had to turn down many an applicant fresh out of college, even for entry level positions, because they hadn't taken the time to get any hands-on along the way.

I have a BS in Hort. from a great university and have made a great living, loving (almost) every minute of a long career.

I suggest that you explore the many avenues and possibilities you have before starting on your journey. I'll get you started if you click on the attached link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Careers in Horticulture

Short answer - yes, you can make a living at it. And dependng on what specific career path in horticulture you choose to follow, you can make a very decent living at it.

In additions to the factors Dorie outlines above, I'd also include a regional component......different parts of the country will have different pay rates for very similar activites. And some areas are just going to offer more career opportunities overall.

Unless you own your own business, the growing and hands on side of horticulture is probably not going to happen with a degree. Employers pay the decent wages for education and that education prepares you for running a business or attending to the technical aspects of it, and supervision. It's still very exciting and as Dorie points out there are career opportunities you can't even imagine until you are in the field. I don't regret leaving a professional position to return to hort, it's been a good life and I'd do it over again.