Life As a Nursery Worker
Nursery Worker Job Description Work in nursery facilities or at customer location planting, cultivating, harvesting, and transplanting trees, shrubs, or plants.
A Day in the Life of a Nursery Worker
- Feel plants’ leaves and note their coloring to detect the presence of insects or disease.
- Sow grass seed, or plant plugs of grass.
- Sell and deliver plants and flowers to customers.
- Tie and bunch flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees, wrap their roots, and pack them into boxes to fill orders.
- Inspect plants and bud ties to assess quality.
- Dig, cut, and transplant seedlings, cuttings, trees, and shrubs.
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Nursery Worker Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Nursery Workers say are important on the job.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Types of Nursery Worker
- Nursery Worker
- Baller
- Bulb Weeder
- Potter
- Tree Nursery Worker
Nursery Worker Job Outlook
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 503,700 jobs in the United States for Nursery Worker. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 1.1% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5,500 new jobs for Nursery Worker by 2026. There will be an estimated 76,800 positions for Nursery Worker per year.

The states with the most job growth for Nursery Worker are Alaska, Nevada, and Vermont. Watch out if you plan on working in South Carolina, Florida, or Hawaii. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Nursery Worker Make?
The salary for Nursery Workers ranges between about $21,900 and $35,200 a year.

Nursery Workers who work in District of Columbia, Wyoming, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.
How much do Nursery Workers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $22,820 |
Alaska | $26,030 |
Arizona | $25,120 |
Arkansas | $22,020 |
California | $26,240 |
Colorado | $31,870 |
Connecticut | $29,760 |
Delaware | $28,390 |
District of Columbia | $38,760 |
Florida | $24,520 |
Georgia | $23,410 |
Hawaii | $32,740 |
Idaho | $24,340 |
Illinois | $30,020 |
Indiana | $24,820 |
Iowa | $30,630 |
Kansas | $28,450 |
Kentucky | $27,180 |
Louisiana | $26,060 |
Maine | $29,520 |
Maryland | $31,900 |
Massachusetts | $34,500 |
Michigan | $25,130 |
Minnesota | $31,510 |
Mississippi | $25,040 |
Missouri | $29,010 |
Montana | $24,850 |
Nebraska | $31,430 |
Nevada | $24,720 |
New Hampshire | $28,640 |
New Jersey | $27,810 |
New Mexico | $21,360 |
New York | $32,720 |
North Carolina | $24,770 |
North Dakota | $30,830 |
Ohio | $25,730 |
Oklahoma | $29,930 |
Oregon | $26,440 |
Pennsylvania | $29,270 |
South Carolina | $27,700 |
South Dakota | $28,560 |
Tennessee | $22,700 |
Texas | $22,120 |
Utah | $26,870 |
Vermont | $31,680 |
Virginia | $27,910 |
Washington | $29,430 |
West Virginia | $25,430 |
Wisconsin | $26,870 |
Wyoming | $35,260 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Nursery Workers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Nursery Workers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- IBM Lotus Notes
Becoming a Nursery Worker
Individuals working as a Nursery Worker have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Nursery Worker?

Where do Nursery Workers Work?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Nursery Worker might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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