Ranked list · 28 careers

28 Jobs With Plants, Ranked by Fit and Pay (2026)

Plant Breeder tops this list at $78,850 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +6.7% projected employment change over 2025–2035. Below are 28 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.

Careers on this list: 28From 1,731 in the bank
Median pay on the list: $53,085BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected to grow: 22 of 28BLS EP, 2025–2035
Openings a year: 904,800Combined, BLS EP

Method

How we built this list

Careers growing, studying and caring for plants: botanists, horticulturists, arborists, plant breeders, greenhouse and nursery managers. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.

The list

The top 28 jobs with plants

100% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.

1
1. Plant Breeder
Specialty within soil and plant scientist
Median pay
$78,850median (parent occupation)
Growth
+6.7%
Openings / yr
1,400
Education
Doctorate
Develops new crop varieties with higher yield, disease resistance or better quality using genetics and field trials.
2
2. Plant Pathologist
Specialty within soil and plant scientist
Median pay
$78,850median (parent occupation)
Growth
+6.7%
Openings / yr
1,400
Education
Bachelor's
Diagnoses and studies plant diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes, and develops ways to control them.
3
3. Soil and Plant Scientist
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Median pay
$78,850median a year
Growth
+6.7%
Openings / yr
1,400
Education
Bachelor's
Conduct research in breeding, physiology, production, yield, and management of crops and agricultural plants or trees, shrubs, and nursery stock, their growth in soils, and control of pests; or study the chemical, phy…
4
4. Urban Forester
Specialty within forester
Median pay
$76,400median (parent occupation)
Growth
+2.2%
Openings / yr
900
Education
Bachelor's
Manages the trees of a city or town, from street trees and parks to canopy planning, planting programs and tree risk.
5
5. Cannabis Cultivation Director
Specialty within first-line supervisor of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
Median pay
$59,320median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.8%
Openings / yr
7,200
Education
High school
Leads a licensed cannabis grow, deciding genetics, lighting, nutrients and climate, and managing the team that turns plants into harvest-ready product.
6
6. Herbarium Collections Manager
Specialty within museum technician and conservator
Median pay
$51,440median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.6%
Openings / yr
1,600
Education
Bachelor's
Cares for and manages a herbarium's collection of pressed plant specimens used by botanists, ecologists and researchers.
7
7. Consulting Arborist
Specialty within tree trimmer and pruner
Median pay
$50,960median (parent occupation)
Growth
+4.2%
Openings / yr
7,900
Education
High school
Provides expert tree assessments, appraisals and reports for developers, cities, insurers and courts, rather than doing tree work.
8
8. Pesticide Handler, Sprayer, and Applicator, Vegetation
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
Median pay
$46,340median a year
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
3,300
Education
High school
Mix or apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides through sprays, dusts, vapors, soil incorporation, or chemical application on trees, shrubs, lawns, or crops.
9
9. Floral Designer
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Median pay
$37,360median a year
Growth
−5.6%
Openings / yr
5,200
Education
High school
Design, cut, and arrange live, dried, or artificial flowers and foliage.
10
10. Budtender
Specialty within retail salesperson
Median pay
$35,410median (parent occupation)
Growth
−0.3%
Openings / yr
520,600
Education
No formal credential
Helps customers at a licensed cannabis dispensary choose products, explains effects and dosing, and completes sales under state rules.
11
11. Wetland Scientist
Specialty within environmental scientist and specialist, including health
Median pay
$82,220median (parent occupation)
Growth
+6.1%
Openings / yr
7,300
Education
Bachelor's
Identifies and maps wetlands for development projects, permits and restoration, using plants, soils and hydrology as evidence.
12
12. Cannabis Compliance Manager
Specialty within compliance officer
Median pay
$80,730median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.8%
Openings / yr
32,700
Education
Bachelor's
Keeps licensed cannabis growers, manufacturers and dispensaries in line with state rules on tracking, testing, packaging, security and sales.
13
13. Landscape Architect
Architecture and Engineering
Median pay
$79,870median a year
Growth
+4.4%
Openings / yr
1,700
Education
Bachelor's
Plan and design land areas for projects such as parks and other recreational facilities, airports, highways, hospitals, schools, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial, and residential sites.
14
14. Viticulturist
Specialty within soil and plant scientist
Median pay
$78,850median (parent occupation)
Growth
+6.7%
Openings / yr
1,400
Education
Bachelor's
Manages the science and care of wine grape vineyards, from planting and pruning to irrigation, disease control and harvest timing.
15
15. Forester
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Median pay
$76,400median a year
Growth
+2.2%
Openings / yr
900
Education
Bachelor's
Manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes.
16
16. Fire Ecologist
Specialty within conservation scientist
Median pay
$73,010median (parent occupation)
Growth
+5.3%
Openings / yr
2,100
Education
Bachelor's
Studies how wildfire and prescribed fire shape forests, grasslands and wildlife, and helps land managers use fire safely.
17
17. First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
Median pay
$58,430median a year
Growth
+4.0%
Openings / yr
23,900
Education
High school
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in landscaping or groundskeeping activities.
18
18. Sports Turf Manager
Specialty within first-line supervisor of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
Median pay
$58,430median (parent occupation)
Growth
+4.0%
Openings / yr
23,900
Education
High school
Manages the natural and synthetic playing surfaces of stadiums, college fields, and park complexes so they stay safe, consistent, and ready for play.
19
19. Forest and Conservation Technician
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Median pay
$54,560median a year
Growth
−2.1%
Openings / yr
3,800
Education
Associate's
Provide technical assistance regarding the conservation of soil, water, forests, or related natural resources.
20
20. Cannabis Extraction Technician
Specialty within separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setter, operator, and tender
Median pay
$51,610median (parent occupation)
Growth
−5.7%
Openings / yr
5,200
Education
High school
Runs the equipment that pulls cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis plants to make oils, concentrates, vape cartridges and edible ingredients.
21
21. Tree Trimmer and Pruner
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
Median pay
$50,960median a year
Growth
+4.2%
Openings / yr
7,900
Education
High school
Using sophisticated climbing and rigging techniques, cut away dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs to maintain right-of-way for roads, sidewalks, or utilities, or to improve appearance, health, and value of tree.
22
22. Utility Line Clearance Arborist
Specialty within tree trimmer and pruner
Median pay
$50,960median (parent occupation)
Growth
+4.2%
Openings / yr
7,900
Education
High school
Prunes and removes trees near energized power lines to keep the electric grid clear, safe and reliable.
23
23. Seed Analyst
Specialty within agricultural technician
Median pay
$49,630median (parent occupation)
Growth
+5.4%
Openings / yr
2,800
Education
Associate's
Tests seed samples for germination, purity and weed seeds so farmers and seed companies know exactly what they are planting.
24
24. Vertical Farm Grower
Specialty within agricultural technician
Median pay
$49,630median (parent occupation)
Growth
+5.4%
Openings / yr
2,800
Education
Associate's
Grows leafy greens, herbs and other crops indoors under LED lights in hydroponic systems, controlling every part of the environment.
25
25. Forest and Conservation Worker
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Median pay
$43,680median a year
Growth
−1.5%
Openings / yr
2,200
Education
High school
Under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, forested areas, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands through such activities as raising and transporting seedlin…
26
26. Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
Median pay
$39,150median a year
Growth
+4.7%
Openings / yr
149,500
Education
No formal credential
Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment.
27
27. Natural Organic Reduction Technician
Specialty within funeral attendant
Median pay
$35,680median (parent occupation)
Growth
+2.6%
Openings / yr
5,400
Education
High school
Cares for human remains during natural organic reduction, often called human composting, which gently turns a body into soil in a few weeks.
28
28. Farmworker and Laborer, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Median pay
$35,660median a year
Growth
−2.4%
Openings / yr
72,500
Education
No formal credential
Manually plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables, fruits, nuts, horticultural specialties, and field crops.

Questions

Jobs With Plants: FAQ

What is the top career on the jobs with plants list?

Plant Breeder leads the list with a median wage of $78,850 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +6.7% over 2025–2035. Typical entry-level education is doctorate.

How was this list put together?

Careers growing, studying and caring for plants: botanists, horticulturists, arborists, plant breeders, greenhouse and nursery managers. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Careers growing, studying and caring for plants: botanists, horticulturists, arborists, plant breeders, greenhouse and nursery managers. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and O*NET 31.0 Database.

How much do jobs with plants pay?

Across the 28 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $53,085 a year, from $35,410 at the bottom to $82,220 at the top (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.

How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?

14 of the 28 careers on this list have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree: a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035).