Employment Statistics and Major Employers of Professional Horticulturists

In the early 1990s more than 35,000 professional horticulturists were working in the United States. Most horticulturists are employed in the private sector in such businesses as pharmaceutical and chemical firms, landscape design firms, and food-processing plants. These horticulturists conduct experiments and research to improve food quality and retain the nutritive value of foods through processing; they engineer foods for more uniform growth and shelf life; and discover new life-saving drugs from plants. Some are marketers and sales executives in the food industry. Many horticulturists own and manage their own garden centers, nurseries, landscape firms, and florist shops. Many homeowners and companies are turning to horticulturists to find environmentally balanced ways to maintain lawns and gardens. Horticulturists work in the lawn and turf care industry as grounds supervisors, golf course superintendents, and sod production managers. They work for large companies and corporations to landscape and plant grounds and brighten office environments.

Horticulturists also work in all levels of government. The U.S. Department of Agriculture employs a number of horticulturists, and many others work for state and local agricultural departments conducting research at experimental stations and public information campaigns. Municipal and city departments hire horticulturists to landscape and plant zoo and parks and manage botanical gardens and arboretums.

Employment opportunities for horticulturists are expected to grow substantially. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment opportunities will grow faster than average for all occupations through the years to come. This growth will primarily take place in the private sector, where horticulture is already a multibillion-dollar business. Horticulturists with specific technical know-how in areas like plant genetics will be in great demand. Also look for large growth in the lawn and turf care industry, where environmental concerns are particularly focused.



Salary Statistics

According to the College Placement Council's 1993 salary survey, the average starting salary for an entry-level horticulturist with a bachelor's degree was $21,786. In the federal government, starting horticulturists with a bachelor's degree earn from $22,717 to $24,321; those with a master's degree earn between $27,789 and $29,641, and doctorate holders earn from $33,623 to $38,865.

Starting salaries in the private sector are comparable to government pay. However, salary level depends heavily upon the region of the country and population density. The success of small business owners is dependent upon many factors, including the state of the economy and their own business savvy.

Sources of Further Information

• American Association of Nurserymen 1250 Eye St., NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005
  
  
• American Horticultural Society P.O. Box 0105 Mount Vernon, VA 22121
  

The society publishes the American Horticulturalist and offers a free information package that includes career information. They also publish information sheets entitled, "Information Sources for Starting a Horticultural Business," "Sources of Horticultural Career Information," and "Sources of Horticultural Scholarships," each for $1. A limited number of student and teacher internships are offered each year.

• American Society for Horticultural Science 701 North Saint Asaph St. Alexandria, VA 22314
  

The society publishes HortScience (free to members), which includes information on schools, careers, and job openings.

• Botanical Society of America 1735 Neil Ave. Columbus, OH 43210
  

The society publishes Careers in Botany (1988), free up to three copies.

• Society of American Florists 1601 Duke St. Alexandria, VA 22314
  

The society distributes free, Careers in Floriculture.