As labor costs rise, employers across the horticulture industry are seeking insights into competitive salaries, benefit offerings, and how their compensation packages compare to others in the field. To address these questions, Seed Your Future (SYF) and North Carolina State University have teamed up to conduct an industry-wide salary survey every two years. Initially launched in 2022 in partnership with the American Floral Endowment (AFE), the survey offers a comprehensive look at wages and benefits across the horticulture sector. The 2022 report can be found here.
The 2024 survey is now open through February 2025 and is available here.
Jazmin Albarran, Executive Director of SYF, emphasized the importance of the survey, stating, “Providing data on horticulture salaries helps employers plan strategically for the future while giving students and job seekers a realistic understanding of potential career earnings.”
Results from the previous survey revealed that production salaries ranged from $30,160 for seasonal workers in fruit and vegetable production to $98,590 for production managers in public gardens. The majority of positions reported average salaries above $40,000. Administrative roles showed a higher compensation, with pay ranging from $46,740 for public garden merchandisers and $50,800 for landscape inventory managers to more than $100,000 for positions such as fruit/vegetable production maintenance managers at $120,580, horticultural services research and development managers at $129,750, and horticultural services sales managers at $132,633. Executive positions topped the salary charts.
In terms of benefits, the most commonly offered were paid time off, professional development opportunities, and medical coverage. Many employers also provided additional benefits, including dental, vision, life insurance, and retirement plans. Unique perks reported by some companies included Employee Stock Ownership Plans, profit sharing, bonuses, flexible work environments, and wellness days. Of the businesses surveyed, 54% employed 21 or more workers, while 46% had 20 or fewer employees.
John Dole, Study Director at NC State University, expressed enthusiasm for this year’s survey, noting, “We had 200 employers participate in the last survey, and this year we’re aiming to significantly increase that number. The more data we collect, the more comprehensive and valuable the insights we can provide—while maintaining strict confidentiality for individual respondents.” The 2024 survey is now open and can be accessed here.
