Career Profile: Horticulturist

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Taking care of plants and trees is the primary responsibility of a horticulturist. Most horticulturists start by gaining a general knowledge and understanding of all types of plants and trees. Typically a horticulturist will work in are landscaping, gardening, farming, and laboratories.

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Duties that a horticulturist will encounter are: growing and harvesting plants, monitoring the health of plants, collecting and analyzing data, and carrying out management duties.

To become a horticulturist, one must first get a Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture. Keep in mind that low-level jobs within this field such as groundskeepers and janitorial staff require no such degree, but these are not highly sought after positions.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the demand for horticulturists to increase faster than the national average of all other jobs. Many jobs within this field were funded by government grants, however looking forward it would appear that most of these jobs will be created in the private sector with no federal assistance.

Expected median salary: $53,000