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The average nursery manager salary in the United States is $40,526 per year, or approximately $19 per hour. This figure reflects the demand for skilled professionals in this field, which involves overseeing nursery operations, managing staff, and ensuring quality care for plants and customers.
Factors such as experience, education, and location play a significant role in determining a nursery manager’s salary. For example, nursery managers with several years of experience or those working in metropolitan areas may earn significantly more than their entry-level counterparts.
States like California, New York, and Florida are known for higher salaries in this profession, often due to the cost of living and demand for skilled nursery managers. Additionally, industries such as agriculture and landscaping tend to offer competitive salaries.
Salary estimates for nursery managers vary, but they consistently reflect the essential role these professionals play in maintaining healthy environments for plant growth and customer satisfaction. Job seekers should explore various opportunities to maximize their earning potential.
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The average nursery manager salary in New Jersey, California, and Michigan are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average nursery manager salary states are Missouri, Nebraska, and Montana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $42,276 | $20.32 |
| 2 | Michigan | $38,713 | $18.61 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $34,946 | $16.80 |
| 4 | California | $39,490 | $18.99 |
| 5 | New York | $35,678 | $17.15 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $36,107 | $17.36 |
| 7 | Texas | $34,821 | $16.74 |
| 8 | Indiana | $33,260 | $15.99 |
| 9 | Delaware | $36,160 | $17.38 |
| 10 | Alaska | $35,281 | $16.96 |
| 11 | Illinois | $34,023 | $16.36 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $35,338 | $16.99 |
| 13 | Maine | $36,326 | $17.46 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $35,525 | $17.08 |
| 15 | Arkansas | $30,938 | $14.87 |
| 16 | Maryland | $34,286 | $16.48 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $35,287 | $16.96 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $34,560 | $16.62 |
| 19 | Florida | $32,773 | $15.76 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $31,567 | $15.18 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $34,556 | $16.61 |
| 22 | Georgia | $31,583 | $15.18 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $33,264 | $15.99 |
| 24 | Iowa | $32,385 | $15.57 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $33,028 | $15.88 |
| 26 | Virginia | $31,646 | $15.21 |
| 27 | Ohio | $30,112 | $14.48 |
| 28 | Vermont | $32,351 | $15.55 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $29,976 | $14.41 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $30,003 | $14.42 |
| 31 | Arizona | $29,153 | $14.02 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $30,728 | $14.77 |
| 33 | Kansas | $28,884 | $13.89 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $27,092 | $13.03 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $28,557 | $13.73 |
| 36 | Nevada | $27,398 | $13.17 |
| 37 | Missouri | $25,170 | $12.10 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $26,889 | $12.93 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $29,071 | $13.98 |
| 40 | Washington | $26,905 | $12.94 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $27,127 | $13.04 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $27,597 | $13.27 |
| 43 | Utah | $26,281 | $12.64 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $25,863 | $12.43 |
| 45 | Idaho | $26,765 | $12.87 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $25,131 | $12.08 |
| 47 | Alabama | $25,212 | $12.12 |
| 48 | Montana | $24,674 | $11.86 |
| 49 | Colorado | $23,401 | $11.25 |
| 50 | Oregon | $22,528 | $10.83 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $23,481 | $11.29 |
The highest-paying cities for nursery managers are Carpinteria, CA, Nipomo, CA, and El Paso de Robles, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carpinteria, CA | $40,592 | $19.52 |
| 2 | Nipomo, CA | $40,327 | $19.39 |
| 3 | El Paso de Robles, CA | $39,739 | $19.11 |
| 4 | River Rouge, MI | $38,747 | $18.63 |
| 5 | Falmouth, MA | $36,446 | $17.52 |
| 6 | Sag Harbor, NY | $35,495 | $17.06 |
| 7 | Concord, MA | $35,288 | $16.97 |
| 8 | Winchester, MA | $35,188 | $16.92 |
| 9 | Chelmsford, MA | $35,032 | $16.84 |
| 10 | Island Lake, IL | $34,519 | $16.60 |
| 11 | Venice, FL | $33,620 | $16.16 |
| 12 | Port Charlotte, FL | $33,537 | $16.12 |
| 13 | Lebanon, IN | $33,063 | $15.90 |
| 14 | Davenport, IA | $33,038 | $15.88 |
| 15 | Seagoville, TX | $32,922 | $15.83 |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | $32,825 | $15.78 |
| 17 | Kihei, HI | $28,384 | $13.65 |
| 18 | Kealakekua, HI | $28,025 | $13.47 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $27,797 | $13.36 |
| 20 | Othello, WA | $26,895 | $12.93 |
A nursery manager's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $67,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| Average | $40,526 | $3,377 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of nursery managers are plant health manager, plant culture manager, and gardening manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | $58,651 | $4,888 | $28.20 | 1,236,194 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for nursery managers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Neil Anderson
Professor, University of Minnesota
Top companies hiring nursery managers now:
Nursery manager salaries at Parkland Hospital and University of Colorado Boulder are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average nursery manager salary at companies like Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs and Monsanto are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parkland Hospital | $52,403 | $25.19 |
| 2 | University of Colorado Boulder | $49,339 | $23.72 |
| 3 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $44,162 | $21.23 |
| 4 | Monsanto | $40,136 | $19.30 |
| 5 | Colorado State Express | $39,211 | $18.85 |
| 6 | AgReliant Genetics | $38,335 | $18.43 |
| 7 | Speedling Incorporated | $37,610 | $18.08 |
| 8 | University of Colorado | $34,255 | $16.47 |
| 9 | State of Colorado | $34,027 | $16.36 |
| 10 | GLN Inc. | $31,040 | $14.92 |
| 11 | Parkland College | $30,439 | $14.63 |
| 12 | Mahoney's Garden Centers | $28,094 | $13.51 |
| 13 | Ace Hardware | $27,415 | $13.18 |
The average nursery manager salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $45,058 | $21.66 |
| 2 | Agriculture | $38,295 | $18.41 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $38,126 | $18.33 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $33,366 | $16.04 |
| 5 | Retail | $31,080 | $14.94 |
The average nursery manager salary has risen by $2,042 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average nursery manager earned $38,484 annually, but today, they earn $40,526 a year. That works out to a 3% change in pay for nursery managers over the last decade.
Compare nursery manager salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare nursery manager salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $40,500 | $19.48 | -4.5% |
| 2025 | $42,400 | $20.36 | +4.5% |
| 2024 | $40,400 | $19.44 | -2.5% |
| 2023 | $41,400 | $19.92 | +4.7% |
| 2022 | $39,500 | $18.99 | +3.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado | Grounds & Nursery I | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/29/2025 | $43,068 |
| C0001 | Grounds & Nursery I | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/26/2025 | $43,068 |
| Cooperativeenergy | Deputy Nursery Manager | Warwick, RI | 02/19/2025 | $40,396 |
| Fledgelingsdaynursery | Nursery Manager | Nome, TX | 02/19/2025 | $38,183 |
| Calbg & Bert & Rocky | Nursery Manager | Claremont, CA | 02/17/2025 | $50,088 |
| Freeman Landscape, Inc. | Nursery Manager | Wilmington, NC | 02/17/2025 | $55,000 |
| Crosscreeknursery | Assistant Nursery Manager | Enon, VA | 02/17/2025 | $41,740 |
| Trees Atlanta | Nursery Manager | Atlanta, GA | 02/13/2025 | $45,000 |
| Colorado State University | Nursery Manager | Fort Collins, CO | 01/14/2025 | $80,000 |
| Planting Justice | EL Sobrante Nursery Manager | El Sobrante, CA | 12/15/2024 | $65,000 |
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