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Job outlook for growers in the United States
Grower job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected grower job growth rate is 1% from 2018-2028.
About 6,900 new jobs for growers are projected over the next decade.
Grower salaries have increased 30% for growers in the last 5 years.
There are over 28,750 growers currently employed in the United States.
There are 188 active grower job openings in the US.
The average grower salary is $36,332.
Are grower jobs in demand?
Grower job and salary trends over time
Grower jobs over time
Grower job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28,750 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 30,483 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 30,650 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 29,810 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 29,279 | 0.01% |
Average grower salary over time
Grower salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $36,332 | $17.47 | +12.7% |
| 2025 | $32,250 | $15.50 | +4.6% |
| 2024 | $30,830 | $14.82 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $29,639 | $14.25 | +6.3% |
| 2022 | $27,889 | $13.41 | +11.3% |
Grower jobs by state
Most common states for growers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 39,536,653 | 15 | 0% |
| 2 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 3 | 0% |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 3 | 0% |
| 4 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 3 | 0% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2 | 0% |
| 6 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 2 | 0% |
| 7 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1 | 0% |
| 8 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1 | 0% |
| 9 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1 | 0% |
| 10 | Alaska | 739,795 | 0 | 0% |
| 11 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 0 | 0% |
| 12 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 0 | 0% |
| 13 | Vermont | 623,657 | 0 | 0% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 0 | 0% |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 0 | 0% |
| 16 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 0 | 0% |
| 17 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 0 | 0% |
| 18 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 0 | 0% |
| 19 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 0 | 0% |
| 20 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 0 | 0% |
Most common cities for growers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Paula | 1 | 3% | $32,109 |
| 2 | Enid | 1 | 2% | $25,092 |
| 3 | Porterville | 1 | 2% | $31,516 |
| 4 | Redondo Beach | 1 | 1% | $32,001 |
| 5 | Omaha | 1 | 0% | $26,074 |
Grower job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of grower experts
Clemson University
What general advice would you give to a Grower?
S. Cory Tanner: Gain practical, hands-on horticulture experience through internships, co-ops, summer jobs, etc. No amount of academic training substitutes for “hands in the soil.”
What Grower skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
S. Cory Tanner: Probably the most revolutionary trend in horticulture currently and into the next 3-5 years is the adoption and expansion of controlled environment agriculture. Technology is rapidly advancing in this area. Growing plants and food in controlled or even artificial environments is probably here to stay and will certainly be impacted by artificial intelligence. Understanding of technological innovations into horticulture like artificial lighting, climate controls, and AI will be very beneficial to new employees.
What will help Growers increase their earning potential?
S. Cory Tanner: Bring diverse training and experiences. Horticulture is a broad discipline and the wider ranges of experience within the field increase salary potential.