Horticulture Salary — $31K/yr Avg at 9 Schools (2026)

Quick Facts: Horticulture Training

Where it's offered

Horticulture programs are offered at 9 schools across 8 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.

Earnings expectations

Graduates earn approximately $31,250/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.

Apprenticeship pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 12 registered apprenticeship pathways related to Horticulture — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.

Program quality benchmark

Across the 9 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 55/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.

What Horticulture Graduates Do

Your career in horticulture starts with your hands in the soil. As an entry-level landscaping or groundskeeping worker, you’ll spend your days outdoors operating mowers and trimmers, planting seasonal beds, and installing irrigation systems. You’ll learn the trade from the ground up, transforming ordinary spaces into beautiful, functional landscapes.

Registered Apprenticeship Pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 12 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Horticulture. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.

Apprenticeship	Training Hours	Type	Salary RangeSalary	Growth
Agricultural Service Worker RAPIDS 703	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$38K – $45,200 – $51K	3.8%
Beekeeper RAPIDS 886	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$68K – $87,980 – $115K	-1.3%
Bison Herd Manager RAPIDS 1136	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$48K – $59,330 – $77K	2.5%
Dairy Grazier RAPIDS 2019HY	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Hybrid	$68K – $87,980 – $115K	-1.3%
Farmer, General (Agric) RAPIDS 177	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$68K – $87,980 – $115K	-1.3%
Greenskeeper Ii RAPIDS 934	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$35K – $38,090 – $46K	3.6%
Greenskeeper Ii RAPIDS 0934CB	Competency	Competency	$35K – $38,090 – $46K	3.6%
Landscape Gardener RAPIDS 271	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$35K – $38,090 – $46K	3.6%
Landscape Management Technician RAPIDS 574	2000 hrs ~1.0 yrs	Time	$35K – $38,090 – $46K	3.6%
Landscape Technician RAPIDS 571	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$35K – $38,090 – $46K	3.6%
Manager, Retail Store RAPIDS 578	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$38K – $47,320 – $61K	-5.0%
Manager, Retail Store (Store Manager) RAPIDS 0578CL	Competency	Competency	$38K – $47,320 – $61K	-5.0%

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.

Find Horticulture Programs in Your State

Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Horticulture is offered at 9 schools across 8 states. Click your state to see all trade programs offered locally.

Ohio (2) Colorado (1) Iowa (1) Illinois (1) Michigan (1) North Carolina (1) Pennsylvania (1) South Carolina (1)

Explore our Horticulture rankings across 9 schools nationwide →

Top Horticulture Programs Nationally

For context, here are the highest-scoring Horticulture programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.

9 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.

#	School	Score	Earnings	ROI
1	Front Range Community College Westminster, CO	70 65–72	$28,703/yr	81.8x
2	Michigan State University East Lansing, MI	66 65–67	$42,513/yr	27.1x
3	Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA	64 62–66	$35,900/yr	33.1x
4	North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC	63 61–64	$38,339/yr	20.6x
5	Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute Wooster, OH	60 57–62	$34,190/yr	21.9x
6	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH	59 55–60	$34,190/yr	15.6x
7	Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg, SC	59 58–60	$29,260/yr	28.0x
8	Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA	53 50–54	$30,185/yr	7.4x
9	Lake Land College Mattoon, IL	47 44–48	$7,972/yr	17.6x

Highest Earning Horticulture Programs

Schools where Horticulture graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	Score
Michigan State University	$42,513/yr	66
North Carolina State University at Raleigh	$38,339/yr	63
Kirkwood Community College	$35,900/yr	64
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute	$34,190/yr	60
Ohio State University-Main Campus	$34,190/yr	59
Pennsylvania College of Technology	$30,185/yr	53
Spartanburg Community College	$29,260/yr	59
Front Range Community College	$28,703/yr	70
Lake Land College	$7,972/yr	47

Best ROI for Horticulture

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Horticulture.

School	ROI Multiple	Earnings	Score
Front Range Community College	81.8x	$28,703/yr	70
Kirkwood Community College	33.1x	$35,900/yr	64
Spartanburg Community College	28.0x	$29,260/yr	59
Michigan State University	27.1x	$42,513/yr	66
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute	21.9x	$34,190/yr	60
North Carolina State University at Raleigh	20.6x	$38,339/yr	63
Lake Land College	17.6x	$7,972/yr	47
Ohio State University-Main Campus	15.6x	$34,190/yr	59
Pennsylvania College of Technology	7.4x	$30,185/yr	53

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Considering a 4-Year Degree?

Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Horticulture degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Horticulture graduates make in their first year?

The median first-year salary across 9 Horticulture programs is $31,250. School selection matters — the gap between the lowest ($7,972) and highest ($42,513) earning programs is significant.

Will AI replace Horticulture jobs?

AI resilience for Horticulture is classified as "Resilient." Approximately 70% of typical job tasks are hands-on — the vast majority of the daily work involves skills that current AI technology cannot perform.

Which school has the best Horticulture program?

Our data ranks Front Range Community College first among 9 Horticulture programs. Its score of 70/100 reflects strong outcomes across earnings ($28,703/yr), return on investment, and career durability.

Is Horticulture worth it?

Typical graduates earn 28.1 times what they paid in tuition within a decade. This is a strong return on investment. Look at per-school ROI in the table above — averages can mask significant variation.