Horticulture Major

Horticulture is a major that typically falls into the Agriculture category.

There are 306 programs available throughout the country that offer an associate’s degree in horticulture, 48 that offer a bachelor’s degree, and 5 that offer a master’s degree. There are also at least 4 schools in the nation where you can get your doctorate degree in the field.

Who Is Getting a Horticulture Degree?

Horticulture is one of the least chosen majors in the country, ranked #213 in popularity. About 400 students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the field in 2017. This major attracts more men than women. About 68.8% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial Distribution

At the countrywide level, the racial distribution of horticulture majors is as follows:

• Asian: 1.6%
• Black or African American: 0.5%
• Hispanic or Latino: 5.8%
• White: 85.7%
• Non-Resident Alien: 1.9%
• Other Races: 4.5%

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in horticulture. About 1.9% of those graduating in 2017 were international students. The most popular countries sending horticulture majors to the U.S. are China, Canada and South Korea.

What Will You Learn as a Horticulture Major?

An O*NET survey asked people with careers related to horticulture to rate how important certain subject areas were to their job. The following are some of the results of that survey. Importance was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Horticulture Majors

Horticulture majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:

Skills for Horticulture Majors

A major in horticulture prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

Abilities for Horticulture Majors

A major in horticulture will prepare for your careers in which the following abilities are important:

What Can You Do With a Horticulture Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with horticulture:

Careers Related to Horticulture

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers	11.4%	$48,220
Nursery and Greenhouse Managers	-0.8%	$67,950
Agricultural Sciences Professors	7.9%	$84,640
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation	7.9%	$35,320
Farm and Ranch Managers	-0.8%	$67,950
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers	3.8%	$39,630

Horticulture Major Salary

Average salaries range from $45,000 to $80,000 for careers related to horticulture. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, the typical high school graduate makes between $29,000 and $57,000 a year. The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $44,000 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,000 and $120,000.

The area of the country you choose to work in will also affect your career and salary prospects. Getting a graduate degree may open up more options with higher salary potential.

Amount of Education Required for Horticulture Major Jobs

Some careers associated with horticulture require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much education do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to horticulture have obtained the following education levels.

Education Levels for Careers Associated With Horticulture

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Less Than a High School Diploma	5.8%
High School Diploma or Equivalent	27%
Post-Secondary Certificate	13.9%
Some College Courses	5.2%
Associate's Degree or Equivalent	12.4%
Bachelor's Degree	17.7%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate	2.2%
Master's Degree	2.2%
Post-Master's Certificate	0.1%
First Professional Degree	0%
Doctoral Degree	8.7%
Post-Doctoral Training	4.3%

Online Horticulture Programs

There are 48 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in horticulture, with 1 of them offering at least some courses online.

Online learners must listen or watch video lectures, participate in group chats or forums, submit papers and assignments electronically, take tests, and meet deadlines.

Many learners are drawn to online programs due to the ease of use and flexibility. Students should be warned that those who enroll in online programs can take longer to graduate than average and are more likely to drop out.

Is a Horticulture Major Worth It?

The median salary for a horticulture grad is $51,000 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 32% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $247,600 after 20 years!

Related Majors

• General Agriculture
• Agricultural Economics
• Agricultural Mechanization
• Agricultural Production
• Food Processing
• Animal Services
• Horticulture
• International Agriculture
• Agricultural Public Services
• Animal Science
• Food Science Technology
• Plant Sciences
• Soil Sciences
• Other Agriculture

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
O*NET Online
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