Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Horticulturist salary
Average horticulturist salary
$36,583
Understanding Horticulturist Salaries
The average salary for horticulturists in the U.S. is approximately $36,583 per year. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry of employment. For instance, horticulturists working in states like California and New York typically earn higher wages due to the higher cost of living and increased demand for their expertise.
In addition to geographical variations, the horticulture sector also plays a role in salary differences. Positions in landscaping, research, or education may offer different compensation levels. Those who specialize in areas like sustainable practices or urban gardening are increasingly sought after, leading to competitive salaries within these niches.
Salary by State
To further understand the earning potential, examine average salaries by state. States like California, Florida, and Texas often report higher average salaries due to their robust agricultural sectors. Additionally, industry-specific roles, such as those in botanical gardens or agricultural research, can command better pay, making specialization a valuable avenue for career growth.
Let Zippia find your next horticulturist job
Let Zippia find your next horticulturist job
Where can a Horticulturist earn more?
Horticulturist salary estimates from across the web
Average horticulturist salary by state
The highest-paying states for horticulturists are Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The lowest average horticulturist salary states are Mississippi, New Mexico, and Tennessee.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for horticulturists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $50,486 | $24.27 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $51,453 | $24.74 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $54,539 | $26.22 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $52,921 | $25.44 |
| 5 | Maine | $41,781 | $20.09 |
| 6 | Ohio | $43,886 | $21.10 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $48,723 | $23.42 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $39,930 | $19.20 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $42,516 | $20.44 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $45,049 | $21.66 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $42,107 | $20.24 |
| 12 | Nevada | $39,076 | $18.79 |
| 13 | Delaware | $42,916 | $20.63 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $45,956 | $22.09 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $40,479 | $19.46 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| 17 | Alaska | $42,332 | $20.35 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $35,692 | $17.16 |
| 19 | New York | $38,957 | $18.73 |
| 20 | Florida | $35,718 | $17.17 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $37,576 | $18.07 |
| 22 | Oregon | $38,550 | $18.53 |
| 23 | Montana | $37,885 | $18.21 |
| 24 | Indiana | $36,613 | $17.60 |
| 25 | Maryland | $38,469 | $18.49 |
| 26 | Iowa | $32,329 | $15.54 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $31,889 | $15.33 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $40,477 | $19.46 |
| 29 | Missouri | $32,017 | $15.39 |
| 30 | Washington | $33,449 | $16.08 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $32,568 | $15.66 |
| 32 | Michigan | $30,539 | $14.68 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $28,080 | $13.50 |
| 34 | Idaho | $32,185 | $15.47 |
| 35 | Virginia | $31,778 | $15.28 |
| 36 | Alabama | $30,051 | $14.45 |
| 37 | Illinois | $31,052 | $14.93 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $30,185 | $14.51 |
| 39 | California | $31,959 | $15.36 |
| 40 | Colorado | $28,318 | $13.61 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $26,199 | $12.60 |
| 42 | Texas | $27,270 | $13.11 |
| 43 | Arizona | $28,512 | $13.71 |
| 44 | Kansas | $28,479 | $13.69 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $24,930 | $11.99 |
| 46 | Georgia | $23,233 | $11.17 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $26,556 | $12.77 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $23,794 | $11.44 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $23,956 | $11.52 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $23,475 | $11.29 |
| 51 | Utah | $23,088 | $11.10 |
Highest paying cities for horticulturists
The highest-paying cities for horticulturists are Wellesley, MA, Vineland, NJ, and Wilmington, DE.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellesley, MA | $52,974 | $25.47 |
| 2 | Vineland, NJ | $47,078 | $22.63 |
| 3 | Wilmington, DE | $43,311 | $20.82 |
| 4 | Aberdeen, SD | $42,658 | $20.51 |
| 5 | Saint Paul, MN | $39,961 | $19.21 |
| 6 | Frankfort, KY | $38,879 | $18.69 |
| 7 | Rock Hill, SC | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| 8 | Boca Raton, FL | $35,783 | $17.20 |
| 9 | New Orleans, LA | $32,470 | $15.61 |
| 10 | Menlo Park, CA | $32,370 | $15.56 |
| 11 | Saint Louis, MO | $32,337 | $15.55 |
| 12 | West Des Moines, IA | $31,773 | $15.28 |
| 13 | Green Bay, WI | $31,306 | $15.05 |
| 14 | Chesapeake, VA | $30,862 | $14.84 |
| 15 | Topeka, KS | $28,778 | $13.84 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $28,464 | $13.68 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $28,341 | $13.63 |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | $27,827 | $13.38 |
| 19 | Lincoln, NE | $27,769 | $13.35 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $23,274 | $11.19 |
Horticulturist salary details
A horticulturist's salary ranges from $22,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $60,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a horticulturist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| 75th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| Average | $36,583 | $3,049 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
Highest paying horticulturist jobs
The highest paying types of horticulturists are soil scientist, plant pathologist, and plant breeder.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Ranger | $40,801 | $3,400 | $19.62 | 2,380 |
| Agronomist | $51,288 | $4,274 | $24.66 | 208 |
| Soil Scientist | $91,463 | $7,622 | $43.97 | 46,471 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for horticulturists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Neil Anderson
Professor, University of Minnesota
Top companies hiring horticulturists now:
Which companies pay horticulturists the most?
Horticulturist salaries at Stanford Health Care and United States Department of Justice are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average horticulturist salary at companies like University of Rochester and NBCUniversal are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 18 | White's Nursery & Greenhouses | $34,658 | $16.66 |
| 19 | San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance | $34,550 | $16.61 |
| 20 | Woodfield Country Club | $34,297 | $16.49 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Horticulturist salary by industry
The average horticulturist salary varies across industries:
- The average horticulturist salary in the government industry is $44,946, the highest of any industry.
- The average horticulturist salary in the finance industry is $32,623.
- Horticulturists in the retail industry earn an average salary of $28,329, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for horticulturists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $44,946 | $21.61 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $32,623 | $15.68 |
| 3 | Education | $31,979 | $15.37 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $30,955 | $14.88 |
| 5 | Hospitality | $30,605 | $14.71 |
| 6 | Retail | $28,329 | $13.62 |
High paying horticulturist jobs
Horticulturist salary trends
The average horticulturist salary has risen by $3,972 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average horticulturist earned $32,611 annually, but today, they earn $36,583 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for horticulturists over the last decade.
Compare horticulturist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average horticulturist salary over time
Compare horticulturist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Horticulturist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $36,600 | $17.59 | +4.4% |
| 2025 | $35,000 | $16.81 | -1.2% |
| 2024 | $35,400 | $17.01 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $34,500 | $16.61 | +0.2% |
| 2022 | $34,500 | $16.57 | +3.6% |
Recently added horticulturist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHRM | Horticulturist | Enon, VA | 06/27/2025 | $55,000 |
| Universal Orlando | Horticulturist | Los Angeles, CA | 06/26/2025 | $66,429 |
| State of Virginia | Horticulturist | Fairfax, VA | 06/26/2025 | $55,000 |
| Aza | Horticulturist | Escondido, CA | 06/20/2025 | $57,768 |
| North Hills Country Club | Horticulturist-North Hills Country Club | Menomonee Falls, WI | 06/19/2025 | $31,305 |
| Loveland Living Planet Aquarium Jobs | Horticulturist I | Draper, UT | 06/18/2025 | $35,479 |
| City of Portland, Me | Horticulturist | Portland, ME | 06/15/2025 | $47,312 |
| The Frick Collection | Horticulturist | New York, NY | 06/12/2025 | $62,610 |
| Josh's Frogs | Horticulturist | Bowne, MI | 06/02/2025 | $31,827 |
| Landry's | Horticulturist | Denver, CO | 05/23/2025 | $41,740 |
Horticulturist salary FAQs
Search for horticulturist jobs