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How to hire a greenhouse technician

Greenhouse technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring greenhouse technicians in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a greenhouse technician is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new greenhouse technician to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a greenhouse technician, step by step

To hire a greenhouse technician, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a greenhouse technician:

Here's a step-by-step greenhouse technician hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a greenhouse technician job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new greenhouse technician
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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.

Learn more about the specifics of what a greenhouse technician does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a greenhouse technician, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a greenhouse technician to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a greenhouse technician that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of greenhouse technicians.

    Type of Greenhouse TechnicianDescriptionHourly rate
    Greenhouse TechnicianGrounds maintenance workers ensure that the grounds of houses, businesses, and parks are attractive, orderly, and healthy in order to provide a pleasant outdoor environment. $11-18
    Yard WorkerA yard worker provides landscape maintenance services to homes and establishments. Their responsibilities typically include meeting with clients to identify their needs and landscape preferences, mowing lawns, growing plants and trees, applying pesticides and fertilizers, operating irrigation systems, and maintaining grounds clean and presentable... Show more$12-18
    LandscaperA landscaper is responsible for maintaining gardens, plant areas, and other outdoor facilities. Landscapers' duties include reviewing and adjusting landscape design based on the clients' specifications, analyzing garden layouts, measuring land areas and surfaces for the design outlines, installing irrigation systems, maintaining plant growth, and applying fertilizers regularly... Show more$11-17
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Harvest
    • Data Entry
    • Greenhouse Environment
    • Pest Control
    • Pest Management
    • Growth Chamber
    • Sops
    • Greenhouse Maintenance
    • Plant Health
    • Hydroponic
    • Greenhouse Equipment
    • Research Projects
    • Greenhouse Production
    • Greenhouse Operations
    Check all skills
    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.
    More greenhouse technician duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your greenhouse technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A greenhouse technician salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, greenhouse technicians' average salary in mississippi is 48% less than in alaska.
    • Seniority. Entry-level greenhouse technicians earn 38% less than senior-level greenhouse technicians.
    • Certifications. A greenhouse technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a greenhouse technician's salary.

    Average greenhouse technician salary

    $14.80hourly

    $30,794 yearly

    Entry-level greenhouse technician salary
    $24,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 19, 2025

    Average greenhouse technician salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Minnesota$38,175$18
    2California$35,531$17
    3Idaho$32,325$16
    4Indiana$27,872$13
    5Missouri$27,622$13
    6Iowa$27,372$13
    7Arizona$26,882$13
    8Virginia$26,808$13
    9Tennessee$26,025$13
    10Florida$25,940$12
    11Texas$24,673$12

    Average greenhouse technician salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Alexandria Real Estate Equities$34,270$16.48
    2Fluent$33,779$16.24
    3Hunter$32,971$15.85
    4Kelly Services$31,194$15.00
    5Len Busch Roses$30,601$14.71
    6Aerotek$30,093$14.47
    7Randstad North America, Inc.$29,177$14.03
    8Elwood Staffing$29,054$13.97
    9BCforward$28,734$13.81
  4. Writing a greenhouse technician job description

    A greenhouse technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a greenhouse technician job description:

    Greenhouse technician job description example

    Company: Pebble Labs
    Location: Los Alamos, NM
    Compensation: $45,000 - $55,000 plus full welfare & health benefits

    About this opportunity:

    Pebble Labs is a cutting-edge agri-biotechnology company dedicated to creating safe, sustainable solutions for global food security issues. Our mission is to develop breakthrough disruptive technologies that address the greatest agriculture, aquaculture, and environmental challenges facing the globe. We are growing and are looking for enthusiastic and driven contributors to join a multicultural and diverse team. Learn more about Pebble Labs at pebblelabs.com

    The Greenhouse Technician will maintain the plant production pipeline for greenhouse and growth chambers plus monitor plant health and conduct pest management, nutrient, and pH remediation as needed.

    This role is also responsible for:

    • Regularly checking water and control systems for the greenhouse and growth chambers, including hydroponics system
    • Help develop and follow standard operating protocols for tracking information on plants from germination to destruction
    • Perform necessary cleaning activities, such as sterilizing growth chambers in the event of a contamination problem
    • Maintain a clean and organized greenhouse and head house room
    • Provide support to scientists in plant experiments, including potting, experimental product applications, data collection, and trial setup
    • Track and carry out preventive maintenance of greenhouse equipment

    Background:

    • Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Horticultural Sciences, Agronomy, Plant Biology, or related natural science required, or in place of a degree, 2 - 3+ years of relevant Greenhouse experience
    • 1 - 2+ years of Greenhouse experience, preferably in a laboratory environment
    • Previous experience working with crop species, preferably working with tomato and/or potato preferable
    • Familiarity with large scale indoor grow or controlled greenhouse operations including protocols, water systems, control systems, pest management, etc.
    • Preferred prior experience with greenhouse computer control systems, with the ability to operate, maintain, and perform basic repairs preferred
    • Familiar with good agricultural practices (GAP)
    • Organization – strong organizational, planning, problem solving and project managing skills, with the ability to multitask and be detail-oriented and the willingness and ability to learn quickly
    • Communication Impact – strong written and verbal communication skills with a solid customer service attitude with internal team, tenants, external visitors, and outside vendors
    • Safety Oriented – some practical knowledge of OSHA requirements
    • Energy & Self-Motivation – High activity level and fast-paced response environment
    • Weekend availability - this role will require flexibility in scheduling including weekend availability
    • Preferred, active New Mexico Pesticide and Application Certification and License
      • If not actively certified, ability to receive certification and license
    • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds

    We are looking for a reliable and self-motivated person with a keen eye for detail, as the ideal candidate will have significant work experience and solid technical knowledge. You should have the manual dexterity and physical stamina necessary for this work. Flexibility to work on weekends as needed.



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  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find greenhouse technicians for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your greenhouse technician job on Zippia to find and recruit greenhouse technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit greenhouse technicians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new greenhouse technician

    Once you've found the greenhouse technician candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new greenhouse technician first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a greenhouse technician?

Hiring a greenhouse technician comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting greenhouse technicians involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of greenhouse technician recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $30,794 per year for a greenhouse technician, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for greenhouse technicians in the US typically range between $11 and $18 an hour.

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