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Nursery Worker

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What Does it Take to Be a Nursery Worker?

Career Description Work in nursery facilities or at customer location planting, cultivating, harvesting, and transplanting trees, shrubs, or plants.

Life As a Nursery Worker

  • Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them.
  • Cut, roll, and stack sod.
  • Dig, cut, and transplant seedlings, cuttings, trees, and shrubs.
  • Feel plants' leaves and note their coloring to detect the presence of insects or disease.
  • Move containerized shrubs, plants, and trees, using wheelbarrows or tractors.
  • Haul and spread topsoil, fertilizer, peat moss, and other materials to condition soil, using wheelbarrows or carts and shovels.

Nursery Worker Needed Skills

When polled, Nursery Workers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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.

  • Bulb Grower
  • Greenhouse or Nursery Transplanter
  • Greenhouse Laborer
  • Bulb Planter
  • Groundman

Is There Job 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.

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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.

Nursery Worker Average Salary

The salary for Nursery Workers ranges between about $21,900 and $35,200 a year.

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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

What Tools & Technology do Nursery Workers Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Nursery Workers:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • IBM Lotus Notes

How to Become a Nursery Worker

Learn what Nursery Worker education requirements there are.

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Nursery Worker?

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Nursery Workers Sector

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The table below shows the approximate number of Nursery Workers employed by various industries.

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Those thinking about becoming a Nursery Worker might also be interested in the following careers:

References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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