What Does it Take to Be a Nursery Worker?
Nursery Worker Example Work in nursery facilities or at customer location planting, cultivating, harvesting, and transplanting trees, shrubs, or plants.
What Do Nursery Workers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Haul and spread topsoil, fertilizer, peat moss, and other materials to condition soil, using wheelbarrows or carts and shovels.
- Dig, rake, and screen soil, filling cold frames and hot beds in preparation for planting.
- Clean work areas, and maintain grounds and landscaping.
- Dig, cut, and transplant seedlings, cuttings, trees, and shrubs.
- Trap and destroy pests, such as moles, gophers, and mice, using pesticides.
- Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them.
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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 Jobs
- Grounds and Nursery Specialist
- Florist Helper
- Budder
- Greenhouse Staff
- Bulb Weeder
Is There Going to be Demand for Nursery Workers?
There were about 503,700 jobs for Nursery Worker in 2016 (in the United States). 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 76,800 job openings in this field each 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.
Salary for a Nursery Worker
Nursery Workers make between $21,900 and $35,200 a year.

Nursery Workers who work in District of Columbia, Wyoming, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Nursery Workers in different U.S. states.
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
How do I Become a Nursery Worker?
Education needed to be a Nursery Worker:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Nursery Worker?

Where Nursery Workers Work

Below are examples of industries where Nursery Workers 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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