by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 26 U.S. colleges awarded 156 degrees and certificates in Plant Nursery Operations & Management. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 70% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $39,255 one year after completing, rising to $55,793 after four years.
A major in Plant Nursery Operations & Management covers Plant Nursery Operations And Management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Operate And Manage Outdoor Plant Farms, Tree And Shrub Nurseries, And Related Facilities That Develop Domesticated Plant Products For Propagation, Harvesting, And Transplantation. Includes Instruction In Applicable Principles Of Plant Science, Farm And Business Management, Nursery Operations, Equipment Operation And Maintenance, Safety Procedures, And Personnel Supervision.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., plant nursery operations & management is a popular field of study, with 156 degrees awarded annually. 26 colleges award plant nursery operations & management degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 29.
By level, the 156 awards include 13 certificates, 23 associate degrees, 11 bachelor’s degrees and 109 master’s degrees.
Women earned 42% of plant nursery operations & management degrees and certificates in the latest year (66 of 156). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (87) and Hispanic or Latino (35).
The most common plant nursery operations & management credential is the master’s degree: 109 of the 156 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to plant nursery operations & management call most for Critical Thinking, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Administration and Management and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Problem Sensitivity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a plant nursery operations & management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 13 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 23 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 11 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 109 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to plant nursery operations & management, at 23.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 23.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 18.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 13.7% |
| Master’s degree | 9.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 8.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.7% |
| Some college courses | 4.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Plant Nursery Operations & Management, with an average median salary of $44,640; the strongest outlook belongs to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Grounds Crewman, Horticulture Manager, Field Manager and Junior Landscape Crew Leader.
The occupation related to plant nursery operations & management with the most projected jobs is Forest and Conservation Workers, at 400,323.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Forest and Conservation Workers | 400,323 | 11.1% |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | 276,926 | 4.4% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 139,205 | -2.2% |
| Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation | 59,660 | 1.1% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
Plant Nursery Operations & Management graduates earn a median $39,255 one year after completing their program, $55,793 after four years and $48,970 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $39,255 |
| 4 years | $55,793 |
| 5 years | $48,970 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to plant nursery operations & management, with a median salary of $84,680.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | $43,138 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
| Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation | $34,037 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | $24,378 |
| Forest and Conservation Workers | $22,542 |
Plant Nursery Operations & Management has 8 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 4,086 degrees a year; the largest are Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General (2,251), Landscaping and Groundskeeping (977) and Turf and Turfgrass Management (385). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
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