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Will I be able to make a living off a horticulture degree?

mike758
10 years ago

I'm 18 and ready to apply for college. It might disappoint my parents (who want to see become an accountant and make 6 figures), but I'm highly thinking about going to a local college for a horticulture degree. I know already know big bucks aren't involved and I'm not worried about that at all, as gardening is my favorite hobby and I wouldn't enjoy any other career field as much. It would definitely be my ideal career, with carpentry behind that, which I don't think is too different in salary.

Now my concern though is having a hard time finding employment, and not making enough income to live comfortably. I would like to do something in the more hands on field, like something to do with nursery work, groundskeeping, landscape design, etc. There's not much out there about horticulture jobs and employment rates.

So my overall question is, if I get a 4 year degree in horticulture, will I be able to find work and if I do will I have at least a somewhat decent income?

Comments (38)

  • marcinde
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Find work? Sure. Decent income? Depends what your income and life goals are and where you want to end up (geographically).

    You may be one of those people who knows at 18 what you want to do and you'll follow that all the way through. That describes my wife. Or you could be like me, someone whose career has morphed over time and will probably be different in ten years. You don't know. So major in something you care about, something that will have you excited for learning so that you finish your degree.

  • mike758
    Original Author
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Yea right now I'm in southeastern Pennsylvania and I feel there may be some jobs over in jersey I can find. The biggest thing I am worried about is not finding a job, but it's starting to sound like horticulture is a pretty broad field.

    And I should of specified what decent income is. I just want good enough income so I can have a place to live and easily put food on the plate. I've never been into designer clothes, jewelry, smart phones, fancy cars, big houses, etc so I probably have an advantage there. I do plan to raise a family but if I have a wife who works too I assume that I should be financially stable enough to raise a family. I also saw some jobs too for groundskeepers that only make like $25,000 a year, but if that includes a house to live in on campus and a work vehicle, that pays not too bad (not saying I'm eyeing groundskeeper jobs, just giving an example). And I don't know what a decent income without benefits is considered but based on my description here it's good enough for a place to live and food...

    This post was edited by mike758 on Thu, Sep 26, 13 at 11:47

  • buhler
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    You can, but it depends what in the horticulture field you want to pursue.

    Gardening is a fantastic career in many ways, but it does not usually pay well.

    If what you want is a lucrative career in horticulture, I think your best bet is in vegetable greenhouses.

    If you are trained (and good) at vegetable greenhouse growing and are willing to move to areas where big greenhouses exist (Leamington/Essex county is the biggest in North America, but there are other areas) you can make good money as an assistant grower (in the 40-60K range/yr). But to become an assistant grower you will usually need to first prove yourself in other areas (such as an IPM manager) which pays a bit less. If you become a (head) grower of one of those big greenhouses, you can certainly make 6 figures but most of that money will often be from bonuses. They often pay a set fee and then a bonus based on how much you exceed certain goals (falling short of those benchmarks is a problem, though). There is a shortage of skilled head growers right now, so that industry engages in some head hunting which is very good for the growers involved. That industry is very cutthroat, demanding and stressful but the most lucrative horticulture field I know of. One tip... many of these greenhouses have large staffs of people from Latin America, so speaking Spanish well gives a step up for anyone looking to get into that industry.

    It seems like bedding plant/flower/perennial greenhouses don't pay as well but can still provide a decent living especially for the top growers.

    There is also some money in the support industry for the horticulture industry. Some sales people and experts can do well, but you would usually need experience in the field to get these positions.

    I think that groundskeeping and gardening outdoors does not pay as well, but there are probably niches that do well.

    Landscaping and landscape construction pay decently in areas that are growing... though that's more of a tradeschool occupation than a horticulture degree.

    I suspect that other niches like managing vineyards and orchards can also pay reasonably well.

    For many of these jobs it might be good to also look at trade schools. Not all of those hiring prefer an undergrad degree to a hands-on trade school.

    I know people who also do remedial horticulture where they use plants to clean up industry messes (such as in the tar/oil sands). There are some moral questions there, but there are certainly careers.

    I guess it depends what you want to do. IMHO there are opportunities all over if you are ambitious and willing to find them. You're more likely to find them if you are working at things you like to do.

    Best of luck.

  • mike758
    Original Author
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks for that advice buhler. Now you got me debating between trade school and college! This is my fault though, I always knew I wanted to do someting in horticulture but I've waited until a month into my senior year to pursue it... But yea based on that and what other people said it sounds pretty easy to find a job in my field, just a little hard to find one with good pay. But like you said if I'm good at what I do and maybe start small, I should be able to eventually make the bucks. It's what I enjoy doing too which I assume makes it worth it

  • marcinde
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Basically you have a ton of options, and having an actual sit-down with someone in the industry is probably your best bet (as we tend to have idealized images of what a day in the life is). Contact your local nursery and landscape organization and see if they can put you in touch with someone. You could also try contacting your county extension agent.

  • mike758
    Original Author
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Alright so it does definitely sound like a possible industry! My only question now is would you recommend a college degree? I was thinking about going to a school called Temple University Ambler that offers a 4 year horticulture program. It's relatively affordable compared to other colleges and close enough to commute to (saves some big bucks). Of course I'm open to other options too if they're better.

  • nurseryman33
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I agree with gardengal about becoming fluent in Spanish. Not just learning a few words but being able to communicate with your Spanish speaking fellow employees will give you a big leg up on your job seeking competition. If you haven't already, start listening to Spanish radio and watching Spanish TV.

  • rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    You might consider enrolling at your local university to begin your horticulture education. Be open minded about the courses you take...you never know where your interests will take you.

    I looked the horticulture offerings at Ambler and it looks very complete. Your introductory, required course work may help you decide which path to follow.

    I hope that you have a love of science...the courses that helped me the most in my career were those that emphasized pathology, physiology, entomology, and soil science.

    I totally agree with the Spanish classes. You'll benefit whether you're a worker bee or in the upper echelon.

  • calliope
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    The horticultural industry is enormous with types of positions you'd never dream of if you are outside the green industry. You can work in plant inspection (like customs officers), sales of green goods like seed, plants, or associated products like nursery containers, work directly in a greenhouse or nursery operation, teach, start up your own business, work in plant breeding, garden design, county extension, city planning, various governmental jobs directly or indirectly related to plants, go into plant protection (pest control), landscaping. If you pursue a four year degree, you'll be obliged to make various curriculum decisions all along the way leading you to certain specialties. I strongly suggest anyone serious in the industry to at least get an associate degree or the equivalent and to spend at least one summer working in the industry. If you don't, you'll start out with a hose in your hands and have to come up through the ranks the hard way. It's still an occupation where you can do this, if your back holds out long enough. ;-) Always, if you can, plan for a career where you can live off one income.........married or not life sometimes deals you that hand.

  • venezuela
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    follow what you love! if it is plants you will make yourself a nich where you can earn a decent living. Work with all your heart and the quality of your work will put you above others. Take the college degree, especially if there are hands on learning possibilities there. I did all this and at 60 have no regrets. I have more than I need, but I do not crave most things society puts in our heads. Also take some business classes so that if you work for yourself you will know about management. THIS I did not do and so it has taken me longer to get to where I am than others with a business interest. Cannot imagine doing anything else, and working with plants helps aliviates stress. The advice to learn spanish is excellent. it even opens up doors in latin america which could be of use dependng on what you end up doing. I did what you are thinking about and ended up down here with a good life style.

    good luck to you.....

  • ssr534
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Wow, if I could talk back to my 18 year old self about this industry I would probably agree with your parents on a career choice of accounting and the '6 figure' potential income. After 30+ years in the industry, income potential wasn't important for me getting into the Green Industry (Hort, Landscape, Turf, etc) but later on with a family and people who depend on me for their well being, I can't agree that this is a good field to get in to for a long term career. That is difficult to understand as an 18 year old, but later on the need to provide for children and a family the best you can would probably fill your later years with a great deal of regret that you can't understand now.
    I started working in this field in high school and through college, I was in computer science my first two years of college and switched to the green industry because of not enjoying the potential of working in the basement labs where most computer systems were found at the time. I got my Hort degree with additional certifications in landscape design/construction and turf management, and went on and also earned a business management degree. The difference of where I am now and where I could have been staying with computers or business management in another field is simply 'exponential'. It isn't just income, but health insurance, retirement funds, and those other benefits that don't seem important at 18 but are huge later on in life. I have a brother in law who is in accounting and has the choice and ability to send his three children to any college that they have the qualifications to get into, providing them at least the potential to have great lives and futures for themselves. I do not have that same potential for my two children after rising to senior leadership roles in this industry over the latter half of my career. Your life 'potentials' working in this industry will always be limiting, that is one thing to accept for yourself, but in 20-30 years you may not feel that way for the rest of your family if you choose to have one. That is something I did not understand as a 18 year old, but is a lesson learned later in life. We never felt like we had to have the biggest home and latest 'toys' or luxuries in life, but depending on where you want to live, living cheaply may put you in unsafe areas and bad schools. In some metro areas, cheaper housing with safe neighborhoods and good schools just don't exist without some risks.
    I would tell my 18 year old self to go for the career choice that pushed me to my limits of what I was able to accomplish, if that is an accounting degree with a minor in business management push yourself to that goal and find your limits (that is really what college should be for). Falling back into our industry is not that difficult later on, and may make you more of an attractive candidate with those out-of-industry experiences. But in the end no matter what career choice you make a job will be a job no matter what industry you are in. It is living your life outside of work and providing for your family that is really what ends up being important, go for the potential of having a great, fun, comfortable life outside of work to start with and fall back to this industry if that doesn't work.

  • Jessica Spaw
    8 years ago

    I'm in the EXACT SAME boat!! But I am currently working at a propagation farm in Houston, TX. And as big of a city of Houston and there's a community college that offers a horticulture programs but none of the major universities anywhere in the vicinity offer a horticulture program for me to transfer to so what do I do??? Relocation is not an option and I can't drive three hours there and three hours back every day or 6 hours a day on the days I have school I have a family to take care of too.

  • Jessica Spaw
    8 years ago

    Does ANYONE have any suggestions??

  • loewenzahn
    8 years ago

    Mike when I read your post it seems that your parents are concerned about your future income not you. You must do what you are passionate about not your parents. If in the future you want to make big money you'll find a way. Otherwise it is far better living on a lower income and drive an old car rather than dragging yourself to work each day. Even in the horticulture fiels I would follow what you are most passionate about. That does not mean that you don't think on making a living. You only have to generate ideas how you can make a living in that particular field. Maybe you need a second or a third skill for that. Maybe you travel for some years and do gardening work all over the world. Maybe you go WOOFING for a while. What you need is passion for what you are doing and the nessesary knowledge (which follows the passion naturally).

  • mike758
    Original Author
    8 years ago

    This is interesting because now it's over two years later, so I might as well give an update on my status. I decided to go to a three year associate granting school which is tuition free for a program called Horticulture, Landscaping, and Turf Management. I see the direction in which guys go, and many either get a job, start their own business, continue on in school, or do something completely different. Unfortunately, most horticulture and landscaping jobs start at $15 an hour and don't have too much room for advancement. That sounded like big pay a while ago, but when I look more into the costs of things it's not significant. Most the jobs only require high school qualifications which is a bit discouraging. Starting your own business is also tough because there's a lot of competition, and pretty much anyone with a truck and trailer calls themselves a landscaper and work for dirt cheap. A lot of guys actually enter the workforce through the union and make in the $25 an hour range which is pretty good.

    Realizing that I got a good brain, leading my class significantly academically, I want to lean towards a degree that makes more money, and I want something I enjoy, I'm looking to transfer my credits post graduation and pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture. My school has an articulation agreement with another to transfer a big load of credits. Landscape Architecture isn't necessarily a gold mine, but it reals in decent income and is in high demand. While it is an office job which I wanted to avoid, I always enjoyed architecture, and this would be one of my better opportunities. So that's the plan right now

  • Christopher Dourte
    8 years ago

    Sounds solid to me! I chose a different route and went with plant breeding. I breed a lot of the plants your company will buy haha. Take Japanese maples for instance I can grow some varieties for 1-2 years or a 2" caliper @ about $20 in water and time per plant then sell them direct to landscapers for $125-175 who turn around and can charge up to $350. I am also in a big farm community so I am working on my certified crop advisors certification to supplement my income. Eventually I will go back to school and get my Dr of plant health through UNLs DPH program. There are so many routes you can choose in this field. Good luck!

  • aviolet6
    7 years ago

    I was on one of these type threads a few years ago too, wanting to change my career. I would say to anyone else with similar questions that yes it is possible to have a career in horticulture, even as a single person, if you also do some side jobs. I have a job as an interior plant specialist, I also deliver pizza one weekend day per week, and I do data entry on the computer. The landscape company I work for provides health insurance, but this year it increased by 3 times. Anyway, if a person is really into plants and has no other career they think they can be reasonably content with, it can be done. I don't miss my previous career. I did move out of state and I now spend the majority of my time alone both at work and not at work, which isn't ideal for me. But I don't have to put up with all the paperwork and procedures required in my previous career. Life is full of tradeoffs.

  • mike758
    Original Author
    7 years ago

    So 2 years later here is my current situation. I'm in college enrolled in a Horticulture, Landscaping, and Turf Management program. I've already ruled out Horticulture as a career. Basically, my two options are to work in the landscape, construction, or trade related industry. My other option is to transfer credits and go major in something else. I go to this college for free, so I'm in no way wasting money, and I'm pretty happy because through this experience I'm starting to put pieces of the puzzle together, and not paying anything!

  • Yuan Gong Hamilton ON CANADA 6b
    7 years ago

    You don't even need the degree. Grow marijuana in Canada or one of the legal US states.

  • noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque)
    7 years ago

    Please keep us updated on your situation! It is particularly interesting to me since I was in a similar situation more than 30 years ago. True, the world was a very different place back then, but the only thing that I wanted to do was grow plants. My parents, being immigrants, were horrified and were convinced that I was going to become a stereotypical gardener. Even back then, living expenses in California were very high, and they saw me living in a cheap apartment, barely making ends meet, with no retirement savings, perhaps not being able to support a family, no health insurance, and with a labor-based outdoor job, with health problems such as chronic back pain and skin cancer. Looking back now, this was a reasonable concern for my parents, who worked 80 hour weeks, while raising children. I remember being at the grocery store with my father counting pennies and putting items back at the checkout counter because we weren’t able to pay for all of it. My mother talked me into a science program, then she talked me out of transferring into a horticulture school from my science program (I had applied and was accepted), and talked me into applying to medical school. I resented her bitterly for many years because of this. I was surprised that I did very well on my MCAT exams and got in to medical school on a partial scholarship.

    I certainly don’t make a lot of money now, not nearly as much as my non-medical friends think I make. I make much less than my friends in engineering (about half), less than my brother-in-law makes as a dentist (I make about a third of what he makes, but he works long hours and weekends), and I make less per hour than my plumber (by about 25%). I work about a 60 hour work week and get paid for 40. I have an incredibly high amount of stress, for which my field is well known, and ALL of my colleagues dream of leaving. It’s one of the fields with the highest suicide rates, and I can easily see why that would be. True, I don’t count my pennies at the grocery store, I live in a house with a garden instead of an apartment, I have health insurance, and people say my skin looks like I’m 30 years old (since I work an indoor job). I still have chronic back pain, but I can afford my therapist and don’t need medication or surgery. I don’t have a lot of time to work in my garden. I see it for a minute or two in the morning getting ready for work. I work in the garden on late summer evenings, weekends and on vacation time, which sometimes makes my spouse resentful.

    The year I finished medical school, I started a master’s program in Landscape Architecture. After my first semester, I realized that I would graduate and make $25K a year (starting salary at that time), which would make it *hard* to pay off the $100K in school loans. To put it in perspective, after taxes that would be about $1754 a month and with $1200 rent, a $200 car payment, and the school loan repayment over $500, expenses would be over $1900 a month even without food or other expenses. So I went back into medicine and did my residency. 10 years later, I went back to school to finish my master’s degree in Landscape Architecture. I graduated in 2008, and you know what happened in 2008 - the Big Crash. Jobs in Landscape Architecture disappeared. I remember looking at job listings and for the whole country I found 4 job listings and all required 5-10 years experience. Also, by this time I was in a relationship and relationships don’t allow for as much mobility as being single. The job market stayed that way for years, and only in the last few years have I seen some growth in the area, although now my architecture work skills (i.e. AutoCAD) are outdated.

    So I’ve stayed in medicine. My job does come with its satisfactions in addition to its frustrations, and I turned out to be very, very good at what I do. But not a day goes by (literally) that I wonder what would have happened if I did go into a horticulture based field. I still dream of being a director of a botanic garden, or a landscape designer for zoos, or a plant breeder, although I know that at this stage of life, the likelihood of this happening is vanishingly small.

    I hope my story has been helpful in some way to you. Good luck in your process and keep us updated.

  • PRO
    Whitelacey
    6 years ago

    I've been in the Horticulture/Landscape business for over 20 years and I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

  • gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
    6 years ago

    Would you care to elaborate?

  • whypraytellwhy
    6 years ago

    Well, how does the outlook seem now?

  • mike758
    Original Author
    6 years ago

    Well I ended up graduating, but leaving the industry. The highest paying jobs are landscaping, which only pay around $16/hr. True horticulture jobs like public gardening and greenhouse work pay even less. The only way to make good money is to own a landscaping business, which I've taken consideration to. As of now though, I'm working in a titanium factory

  • gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
    6 years ago

    "The highest paying jobs are landscaping, which only pay around $16/hr. "

    Landscape design (not landscape architecture) pays a whole heck of a lot more than $16 per hour!! Landscape architecture (requiring a degree, passing an exam, apprenticeship and licensing) pays even more.

    My contractor - owns his own business - pays his crew $25/hr........that is the going rate here. Even self-employed landscapers (the "mow, blow and go" guys) charge at least $20/hr.

  • aviolet6
    6 years ago

    Where in the USA do interior plant technicians make the most money? The ones that go around and take care of plants in fancy buildings?

  • mike758
    Original Author
    6 years ago

    I should have clarified, I graduated with an associates. Landscape design jobs are hard to find, most firms look for architects. So with a 5 year degree and passing the exam, I would have higher paying opportunities. The ultimate decision though was with that kind of education I would quite honestly rather do something else in my case. I'm not complaining, I had a free scholarship, did what I thought I liked, didn't like it, but didn't lose anything either.

  • Hayley Wise
    4 years ago

    I hope you went for the horticulture degree!! I know it's been over 6 years since you posted, but you seemed so passionate about it...I hope you went for it!
    Also, defining one's life and whether they are successful, based solely on how much money one makes per year and the material things one can obtain, is sad! Do what makes YOU happy! Your parents chose THEIR path for THEIR lives...I hope you did the same! And whether it be a horticulturalist, a CPA, or a fry cook at McDonald's, I hope you are blissful and blessed and happy in all you do!!!

  • Jes Way
    4 years ago

    I’m in the same boat looking into whether I want to do Horticulture or something else at 22. I hope it worked out and continues to.

  • aviolet6
    4 years ago

    Unless you share expenses with a significant other, I wouldn’t recommend it. I changed my career five years ago and have had ongoing financial difficulty on a single income since. Must say, I am much better at this job than my previous one though.

  • gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
    4 years ago

    How well one can support one's self in this field depends on how much oomph or effort you are willing to put into it :-)) I have managed quite well on my design and consultation income by myself for more than 25 years so it is definitely doable.

  • rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
    4 years ago

    This thread has made me sad at times. I'm sorry that so many of the people here didn't get the kind of education needed nor a single bit of creative counseling in order to lead them to a lucrative and rewarding career path.

  • tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
    4 years ago

    I scrolled all the way to the bottom to ask of the OP, even though he's given up the idea or already graduated with his degree, how hard are you willing to work? However, I see Pam beat me to it. If one starts out thinking they want a career doing something related to plants, and it turns out all that was really wanted was a paycheck, it's likely to be a tough row to hoe. On the other hand, I have several friends in plant related fields making more than 6 figure incomes. Some travel the world sharing their knowledge ...... and most of them have no education beyond high school - just passion and the will to work as hard as is required to make themselves successful.

    Al

  • Jes Way
    4 years ago

    That’s what I needed. I’m not looking to make 6 figures just live comfortably. I’m just split and confused on how to turn this into a career.

  • tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
    4 years ago

    You'll likely get additional input if you provide details re what "this" is. What interests do you currently actively pursue with regard to plants, or which would you like to? If you currently have plant related interests, what have you done on your own time to add to your knowledge and skillset? Does 'horticulture' extend to agriculture? Do you want to be self employed? Are you a scientist by nature?

    I've worked at making a small corporation successful for the last 40 years, but I can't honestly say I've really enjoyed the work, nor do I hate it. I've worked hard and it's been rewarding financially, but I couldn't count the number of times I've wondered where I'd be or what I'd be doing had I discovered my interest in growing things early enough in life that it made good sense to follow what called. As a younger man, my focus was on the paycheck. Only as I matured was I able to realize the truth in the idea 'it's best to make a career of something you can be truly devoted to'.

    Al

  • jns06
    5 months ago

    I read the above comments from years ago and am left feeling so defeated. I'm looking to leave my current field of employment as I've been experiencing feelings of burn out. I'm not even forty, already have two bachelors degrees, so going back to school isn't something I have been taking lightly. I've been weighting the cost of student loans, pay, future hardships such as recessions and etc into my thoughts.

    I am still trying to narrow my focus, but I was considering a landscape design degree. I've also thought about forgoing the degree and gaining experience of working at a local nursery for a few years while I take online certifications.

    My ultimtae goal is to give homeowners gardens that are beautiful but also food yeilding (a landscaped food forest, if you will). I noticed that when I was seeking out a landscape designer to give me plans of a garden with fruit trees, I could not find anyone to do so and amended the plans I had received from the designer to achieve my goals. I guess I'm tossing my thoughts into the wind, given that this is such an old thread, hoping to receive some sort of wisdom, advice or peace.

  • noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque)
    5 months ago
    last modified: 5 months ago

    Here's my two cents worth (my Master's degree thesis in Landscape Architecture was in creating an edible landscape). First of all, evaluate your community for demand for this type of work. Then evaluate your ability to market yourself, and to create a solid business plan.

    Although it sounds like nice job, getting paid for doing something you love, and creating beautiful spaces for people, the real trick is getting clients who are willing to pay for your services and then the biggest issue of actually getting paid. Everyone thinks that if they watch HGTV they can design and install their dream garden in a weekend. If people love a beautiful garden they probably already work on it and don't want design work. If people don't love their garden, they probably aren't willing to pay someone to design a garden or install it. People will spend much more money on their houses than the garden (understandably), and if budget cuts need to be made the landscape is the first to go.

    You have to find clients who like a beautiful garden, have the income to pay a designer/installer. That can be tricky, depending on your location. That could be a business professional who likes to use their outdoor space for relaxation, or hosting parties. Put it this way: would YOU hire a garden designer? How much would you pay? How many people do you know who have hired garden designers? How many people have asked you if you know a good garden designer?

    People also don't just want design, they want the project installed. Finding clients who are willing to find their own labor to install your designs will be challenging. So you might consider either working into your business a ground crew to install your designs, or work with an installation company (and keep an eagle eye on them that they actually install what you design instead of making it an easier and cheaper install). Most of the landscape construction company bosses/managers that I've met speak Spanish fluently.

    You have to be able to really target and market your business. If you are confident that you can do this, go for it!

    You could also try to find a job with an architecture firm or big landscaping firm to do design. Most architecture firms will want a landscape architect. Do a job search and see what is out there.

    I could go on, but that's enough.

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