How to hire a horticulturist

How to hire a horticulturist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step horticulturist hiring guide:

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

What does a horticulturist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your horticulturist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a horticulturist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a horticulturist 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 horticulturist that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of horticulturists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Horticulturist	Description	Hourly rate
   Horticulturist	Agricultural and food scientists research ways to improve the efficiency and safety of agricultural establishments and products.	$10-28
   Park Ranger	A park ranger is responsible for maintaining and protecting the natural ecosystem landscape and coordinating with environmental organizations to develop strategies and programs to stabilize the condition of the lands. Park rangers conduct data analysis and research to improve agricultural integrity by utilizing adequate resources through scientific testing and investigations... Show more	$10-34
   Agronomist	Agronomists are professionals who are experts in finding ways to maximize crop production from a given acreage of soil. These agronomists must maintain a deep understanding of soil productivity principles by performing experiments to determine plant nutrients and soil health... Show more	$12-50

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • GRASS
   • Irrigation Systems
   • Horticulture
   • Grounds Maintenance
   • Mowing
   • Plant Material
   • Ornamental
   • Pest Management
   • Pest Control
   • Flower Beds
   • Weed Control
   • Snow Removal
   • Native Plants
   • Plant Identification

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage payroll processing and all aspects of accounts receivable and payable.
   • Operate snow plows, snow blowers and large salt sprayers.
   • Maintain all flower beds, landscape areas, and turf grass areas.
   • Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush trimmers.
   • Maintain inventory and help with Quickbooks.
   • Provide assistance with loading and unloading pigs.

   More horticulturist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your horticulturist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A horticulturist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, horticulturists' average salary in utah is 58% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level horticulturists 63% less than senior-level horticulturists.
   • Certifications. A horticulturist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a horticulturist's salary.

   Average horticulturist salary

   $36,583yearly

   $17.59 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level horticulturist salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 18, 2026

   Average horticulturist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$52,974	$25
   2	New Jersey	$47,078	$23
   3	Delaware	$43,311	$21
   4	South Dakota	$42,658	$21
   5	Minnesota	$39,961	$19
   6	Kentucky	$38,879	$19
   7	South Carolina	$36,400	$18
   8	Florida	$35,783	$17
   9	Louisiana	$32,470	$16
   10	California	$32,370	$16
   11	Missouri	$32,337	$16
   12	Iowa	$31,773	$15
   13	Wisconsin	$31,306	$15
   14	Virginia	$30,862	$15
   15	Kansas	$28,778	$14
   16	Arizona	$28,464	$14
   17	Colorado	$28,341	$14
   18	Texas	$27,827	$13
   19	Nebraska	$27,769	$13
   20	Georgia	$23,274	$11

   Average horticulturist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Stanford Health Care	$85,640	$41.17
   2	United States Department of Justice	$50,847	$24.45
   3	University of Rochester	$49,663	$23.88
   4	NBCUniversal	$46,150	$22.19	1
   5	The Wild Center	$41,208	$19.81
   6	City and County of Denver Government	$40,807	$19.62
   7	City of San Antonio	$40,084	$19.27
   8	City of Austin	$39,622	$19.05
   9	City of Louisville	$38,354	$18.44
   10	Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.c. Or Aza	$37,414	$17.99	1
   11	City of Houston	$37,337	$17.95
   12	Denver Botanic Gardens	$36,443	$17.52
   13	City of Reno	$34,764	$16.71
   14	G. & M. Co., Inc.	$34,758	$16.71
   15	Serco	$34,758	$16.71
   16	VALLEY CREST MAINTENANCE	$34,748	$16.71
   17	John Mini Distinctive Landscapes	$34,675	$16.67	2
   18	White's Nursery & Greenhouses	$34,658	$16.66
   19	San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance	$34,550	$16.61	1
   20	Woodfield Country Club	$34,297	$16.49

4. Writing a horticulturist job description

   A job description for a horticulturist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a horticulturist job description:

   Horticulturist job description example

   Under direction, is responsible for coordinating and performing technical work in all phases of a horticultural program of a City Department. May exercise direct supervision over assigned staff.
   Work Schedule
   
   6:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.; Monday - Friday
   
   Essential Job Functions
   
   * Directs care and maintenance of gardening and horticultural operations at assigned City Department through on-site inspections and evaluations.
   * Assists in the preparation of preliminary horticultural budget and budget for assigned areas, and monitors expenditures against budget allotments.
   * Fertilizes turf, flowers, and trees (includes extensive use of chemicals) and monitors area for pests and disease; includes occasionally lifting and carrying supplies weighing up to 25 pounds.
   * Speaks to garden clubs, schools, etc.
   * Prepares schedules and programs for development and progressive maintenance of landscaped areas;
   * Schedules the planting of trees, shrubs, and annual and perennial flowers for use on City properties.
   * Makes recommendations for programs providing pesticide consultation.
   * May supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff.
   * Performs related duties and fulfills responsibilities as required.
   
   Job Requirements
   
   * Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.
   * One (1) year of experience in horticulture or related field.
   * Must be licensed through the Texas Department of Agriculture or Structural Pest Control Service as a pesticide applicator within six (6) months of hire.
   * Valid Class 'C' Texas Driver's License.
   
   Preferred Qualifications
   
   * Pesticide Applicators License
   
   * Knowledge of irrigation systems
   
   Applicant Information
   
   * If selected for this position, official transcripts, diplomas, certifications and licenses must be submitted at the time of processing. Unofficial transcripts and copies of other relevant documents may be attached to the application for consideration in advance.
   * Please be advised that if selected for this position, information regarding employment history as it relates to the qualifications of the position will be needed for employment verification. Applicants claiming military service to meet the experience requirement for this position may attach a DD214 to the application.
   * Unless otherwise stated, applicants are permitted to substitute two years of related full-time experience for one year of higher education or one year of related higher education for two years of experience in order to meet the minimum requirements of the job. One year of full-time experience is defined as 30 or more hours worked per week for 12 months. One year of higher education is defined as 30 credit hours completed at an accredited college or university.
   * Applicants selected for employment with the City of San Antonio in this position must receive satisfactory results from pre-employment drug testing and background checks. If required for the position, a physical, motor vehicle record evaluation, and additional background checks may be conducted.
   
   Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
   
   * Knowledge of horticulture, floriculture, arboricultural, agriculture, and agronomic skills and practices.
   * Knowledge of principles and practices applicable to the administration, management, planning, and maintenance of horticultural planting operations.
   * Knowledge of materials, methods, and equipment used in horticultural operations/services.
   * Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision.
   * Ability to establish and maintain effective public relationships with co-workers, supervisors, and the general public.
   * Ability to carry out scientific and statistical analysis of horticultural problems.
   * Ability to maintain accurate records and make comprehensive reports.
   * Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
   * Ability to perform all physical requirements of the position, with or without accommodations.
   * Working conditions are both in an indoor and outdoor environment.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right horticulturist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your horticulturist job on Zippia to find and recruit horticulturist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit horticulturists, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 horticulturist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the horticulturist position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   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 horticulturist 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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