Nursery/Greenhouse Manager Job Description, Career as a Nursery/Greenhouse Manager, Salary, Employment

Education and Training: College

Salary: Median—$37,172 per year

Employment Outlook: Good

Definition and Nature of the Work

Nursery/greenhouse managers oversee the daily operations of a greenhouse and/or nursery. They manage the care of plants, flowers, and trees; hire and coordinate nursery and greenhouse workers; and observe environmental standards for agricultural and horticultural production.

An experienced and effective manager will be able to supervise people and resources to ensure the production of healthy and beautiful flowers, plants, and trees that will be sold to the public or wholesale retailers. They must be able to anticipate problems with staffing and resources and solve them.

Education and Training Requirements

To become a nursery or greenhouse manager, an associate's degree in horticulture or a related field is usually required. Also, at least five years of experience as a nursery/greenhouse worker is essential to be promoted to manager.

Through on-the-job training, workers can learn many of the duties that are involved in being a manager. Some computer knowledge is necessary, as is familiarity with pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, and watering and planting procedures. Education, experience, and training will provide the knowledge a worker needs to advance.

Getting the Job

In order to gain experience while still in high school or college, prospective nursery/greenhouse managers can apply directly to nurseries and/or greenhouses in their area for work. Five years of experience in horticulture is necessary for advancement to manager, so candidates can start working and getting that experience at an early age. People management skills are a must, so candidates should search out opportunities to prove their ability to supervise others at every opportunity.

Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook

Nursery/greenhouse managers can advance to larger operations, supervise other managers, or establish their own nursery or greenhouse business.

Job opportunities for managers are good. The demand for fresh flowers, plants, and other vegetation for commercial and private land has remained high, and that means decent opportunities for aspiring and experienced managers.

A manager of a retail garden center trains a new nursery worker. (© Don Mason/Corbis.)

Working Conditions

Managers generally work a regular forty-hour a week schedule in a climate-controlled environment, usually in an office. They will spend a lot of their time out in the nursery or greenhouse, supervising planting, fertilizing, or the transfer of flowers, plants, or trees.

Earnings and Benefits

The median salary for a nursery/greenhouse manager is $37,172 per year. Experienced managers can earn $45,618 per year. Benefits include health and dental insurance and paid vacation and sick days.