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Greenhouse technician vs gardener

The differences between greenhouse technicians and gardeners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a greenhouse technician and a gardener. Additionally, a gardener has an average salary of $32,912, which is higher than the $30,794 average annual salary of a greenhouse technician.

The top three skills for a greenhouse technician include harvest, data entry and greenhouse environment. The most important skills for a gardener are GRASS, mowing, and hand tools.

Greenhouse technician vs gardener overview

Greenhouse TechnicianGardener
Yearly salary$30,794$32,912
Hourly rate$14.80$15.82
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs8,5745,411
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4141
Years of experience22

What does a greenhouse technician do?

A Greenhouse Technician specializes in maintaining greenhouses and growing plants. Their responsibilities usually include conducting research and assessments, developing action plans, installing and operating equipment, making upgrades and adjustments, keeping records, liaising with internal and external parties, and performing necessary repairs and maintenance to keep the greenhouses in good condition. They also facilitate plant propagation, watering, pruning, and fertilizing. Moreover, a Greenhouse Technician may also utilize their expertise by working at agricultural plants and universities.

What does a gardener do?

Gardeners are skilled employees who are responsible for monitoring the health of all plants and trees while maintaining the landscape of a garden. These gardeners are required to trim lawns edges while using rakes and brooms to remove lawn clippings and clear other debris from the ground. They need to use various gardening tools to perform basic pruning while neatly shaping bushes and trees to the desired design. Gardeners must also apply liquid fertilizers and chemical control agents to remove weeds and protect the attractiveness of the landscapes.

Greenhouse technician vs gardener salary

Greenhouse technicians and gardeners have different pay scales, as shown below.

Greenhouse TechnicianGardener
Average salary$30,794$32,912
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $39,000Between $22,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CityPlymouth, MNUnion City, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaHawaii
Best paying companyAlexandria Real Estate EquitiesUC Santa Barbara
Best paying industryManufacturingMedia

Differences between greenhouse technician and gardener education

There are a few differences between a greenhouse technician and a gardener in terms of educational background:

Greenhouse TechnicianGardener
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorBiologyPlant Sciences
Most common college--

Greenhouse technician vs gardener demographics

Here are the differences between greenhouse technicians' and gardeners' demographics:

Greenhouse TechnicianGardener
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 57.4% Female, 42.6%Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.2% Asian, 2.3% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 28.0% Asian, 1.8% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage3%3%

Differences between greenhouse technician and gardener duties and responsibilities

Greenhouse technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage hardscape installation team and project
  • Assist doctors with circumcision surgeries.
  • Study of state forestry techniques, some review of GIS mapping and GPS data collection.
  • Maintain plants for cultural controls such as fertilizer, water, light, temperature, IPM, and CO2.
  • Perform welding operations on plumbing installations.
  • Addressed electrical and plumbing problems and implement remedies.
  • Show more

Gardener example responsibilities.

  • Manage hardscape installation team and project
  • General grounds maintenance of exterior landscaping, including trimming, weed control, lawn mowing, and applying fertilizer.
  • Operate and maintain lawn mowers and tractors for seeding, aeration, snow removal and fertilizing of grounds.
  • Operate vehicles or power equipment, such as mowers, snow blowers, chain-saws, electric clippers and pruning saws.
  • Operate a variety of equipment including hand and power tools, blowers, mowers, and drive a vehicle around campus.
  • Clean grounds using rakes, brooms, trash can, and hand blower.
  • Show more

Greenhouse technician vs gardener skills

Common greenhouse technician skills
  • Harvest, 21%
  • Data Entry, 9%
  • Greenhouse Environment, 7%
  • Pest Control, 5%
  • Pest Management, 4%
  • Growth Chamber, 4%
Common gardener skills
  • GRASS, 20%
  • Mowing, 10%
  • Hand Tools, 7%
  • Blowers, 7%
  • Rakes, 5%
  • Grounds Maintenance, 5%

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