Nursery and Greenhouse Workers

(NOC 8432)

in All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

Nursery and greenhouse workers plant, cultivate, and harvest trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants, and serve nursery and greenhouse customers. They work for indoor and outdoor nurseries and greenhouses.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 70 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

  • Estimate 415 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1430 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$14.50

Minimum

$14.50

Median

$18.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$1,730

Minimum

$11,360

Median

$21,541

Maximum

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

Hourly Pay

$13.00

Minimum

$18.00

Median

$30.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$4,009

Minimum

$23,520

Median

$87,170

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Nursery and greenhouse workers plant, cultivate, and harvest trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants, and serve nursery and greenhouse customers. They work for indoor and outdoor nurseries and greenhouses.

Job duties

Nursery and greenhouse workers:

  • Prepare soil, plant bulbs, seeds and cuttings, graft and bud plants, and transplant seedlings and rooted cuttings.
  • Spray trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants to prevent disease and pests.
  • Position and regulate greenhouse and outdoor irrigation systems to water plants and fields.
  • Dig, cut, and transplant trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants and prepare them for sale.
  • Provide information to customers on gardening and the care of trees, shrubs, flowers, plants, and lawns.
  • May operate tractors and other machinery and equipment to fertilize, cultivate, harvest and spray fields and plants.
  • Maintain inventory and order materials as required.
  • Clean working areas.

Sample job titles

  • Christmas tree shearer
  • greenhouse worker
  • horticulture worker
  • hothouse worker
  • hydroponics worker
  • nursery worker
  • tree grafter - nursery

Skills

  • You should enjoy working outdoors. You should have good health, physical stamina, and strength. You must also be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by a supervisor. Good communication and interpersonal skills may be necessary for working with the public.

Job requirements

  • High school may be required.
  • College courses in horticulture or a related field may be required.
  • On-the-job training is provided.
  • A provincial licence to apply chemical fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides may be required.

Other considerations

  • Movement to supervisory positions like greenhouse supervisor is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

345

employed in 2016

55.1%

employed full-time

11.6%

self employed

60.9%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
39.1%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
50.7

median age

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

14,665

employed in 2016

78.0%

employed full-time

20.0%

self employed

15.1%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
84.9%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
44.6

median age

Where will I likely work?

33.8%

Annapolis Valley

$11,670 median annual income
27.9%

Southern

$8,550 median annual income
20.6%

North Shore

$12,611 median annual income
10.3%

Halifax

N/A
7.4%

Cape Breton

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

87.2%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

8.5%

Retail trade

4.3%

Wholesale trade

What is the age of Employment?

30.0%

55-64

29.0%

15-24

17.0%

45-54

9.0%

25-34

9.0%

35-44

6.0%

65+

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

20.7%

45-54

19.8%

15-24

19.2%

55-64

16.2%

35-44

14.8%

25-34

Top levels of education

29.4%

High school

$12,086 median annual income
29.4%

College Diploma

$12,091 median annual income
29.4%

Less than high school

$5,501 median annual income
8.8%

Bachelor

N/A
4.4%

Trade Certification

N/A

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

35.7%

Less than high school

$23,463 median annual income
30.8%

High school

$19,301 median annual income
13.7%

College Diploma

$29,551 median annual income
13.4%

Trade Certification

$31,535 median annual income
4.4%

Bachelor

$17,956 median annual income

Education & training

Agriculture - General

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on agricultural research and production. They include courses in basic animal, plant, and soil science, animal husbandry and plant cultivation, soil conservation, and agricultural operations like farming, ranching, and agricultural business.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Landscaping and Groundskeeping

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to manage and maintain indoor and/or outdoor ornamental and recreational plants and groundcovers and related designs created by landscape architects, interior designers, enterprise owners or managers, and individual clients. They include courses in applicable principles of horticulture, gardening, plant and soil irrigation and nutrition, turf maintenance, plant maintenance, equipment operation and maintenance, personnel supervision, and purchasing.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations - Other

College, Trades, or University Program

This includes any program not listed elsewhere that relates to Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture
Halifax, NS
Canadian Society for Horticultural Science
Truro, NS
Landscape Nova Scotia
Dartmouth, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.