Green Industry Jobs 101

by Alana Settle

There’s a job in the green industry for just about anyone willing to put in a hard day’s work.

It takes a diverse group of passionate employees to create beautiful, smartly designed, and well-maintained outdoor spaces. Some positions are summer jobs and others can be lifelong careers. Many entry-level roles require only a high school diploma. Companies provide on-the-job training, while post-secondary education and certification programs are easily accessible for those interested in advancing their careers.

If you’d like to explore career opportunities in the green industry, we’ve listed a few popular jobs below that compose some of OGIA’s largest membership segments—landscaping, wholesale growing operations, arboriculture, and retail garden centers. This is a small sampling of all there is to offer. Seed Your Future, a non-profit that promotes careers in the green industry, lists more than 140 horticulture-related careers on its website.

Landscape

Perhaps the most recognizable to the public, the landscape industry is a broad field comprising highly trained architects and designers, field technicians who create complex outdoor spaces in residential and commercial properties, and professionals who care for and maintain plants and lawns for homeowners and businesses. Many jobs require physical labor and working in the varying temperatures of spring, summer, and fall. Some landscape companies offer snow removal services as well.

Landscape projects require a team of people—sales staff and account managers, designers, project managers, and an install crew to name a few.

Landscape Technicians

Crew members are often only required to have a high school diploma. Opportunities for advancement to supervisory positions are available after several years of experience. An associate degree can help advance a career, as can certification programs.

Landscape Designers

An associate or bachelor’s degree is required. Advanced certification is also available. Landscape architects are licensed professionals who have bachelor’s or master’s degrees.

Hardscape Installers

A college education is not required for entry-level technicians, however many two- and four-year programs at universities and community colleges provide education on designing and installing hardscape features such as patios, walkways, and retaining walls. Training and certification programs, offered by industry associations and manufacturers of hardscape products, are also available to those already working in the industry.

Greenhouse and Nursery

Wholesale greenhouse and nursery operations grow plants and sell them to businesses such as landscapers and retail garden centers. Employees perform a variety of tasks, such as potting and pruning plants, field planting, propagating new plant material, monitoring for pests and diseases, applying fertilizers and pesticides, and gathering plants for orders. Growing operations also have sales teams, shipping departments, mechanics, office staff, and more.

Greenhouse and Nursery Technicians

Many companies will hire candidates for entry-level positions who have a high school diploma and will train them on the job.

Grower

A college degree or industry experience is preferred for advanced positions. A state license is required to apply pesticides.

Arborists

Arborists provide a variety of tree care services, including pruning, removal, and pest and disease management, in residential and commercial locations. Many arborists work outside nearly year-round since many tasks can be done in cold weather.

Some entry-level positions may be available for those with little experience, but two- or four-year degrees and certifications are often preferred. Identifying and developing a treatment plan for the array of pests, diseases, and abiotic disorders affecting trees requires considerable knowledge of plant health care. A license is required to apply pesticides to trees.

Retail Garden Centers

Retail garden centers sell plants and other gardening and landscaping products to the general public. People who enjoy interacting with customers would thrive in most garden center positions. Most employees work directly with customers, but garden centers also have buyers, department managers, growers, and merchandisers who create eye-catching displays and signage.

Associates

Entry-level roles do not require college degrees and many garden centers even hire high school students for part-time summer jobs. Customer service experience is preferred, as well as some plant knowledge (or a willingness to learn). Employees are often tasked with helping customers identify popular plants, trees, and shrubs and answering questions about plant care.

Advanced Positions

Employees responsible for growing and maintaining plant material often have degrees or several years of experience. Some retail operations also provide landscape design, installation services, and community workshops, offering more opportunities for employees who have skills in those areas.

For more information about careers in the green industry, visit these resources:

Seedyourfuture.com/careers

Landscapeindustrycareers.com

Hardscapingis.com