Agricultural Careers

Greenhouse Manager

By: Dr. Frank Flanders and Trisha Rae Stephens

Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office

Georgia Department of Education

June 2005

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Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Outline, assign and direct the work of employees• Oversee all workers, including hiring and firing of employees• Train workers in their duties as necessary• Provide for a safe working and /or sales environment• Oversee the safe, effective and lawful use of pesticides• Keep employee and financial records• Manage the physical facilities and growing environment • Monitor quality of products

Qualities and Skills

• Heavy lifting is often required• Walking and standing long hours• Ability to work long hours during peak seasons• Ability to occasionally work odd hours during critical production periods or when equipment fails during nights and on weekends and holidays. • Traveling may be involved, especially for delivery of plants

Salary

Salaries for greenhouse managers vary widely by experience and size of the operation. Almost all of the positions are in private industry, in small to medium sized businesses and salary data is not normally collected. However, a beginning manager can expect to earn about $20,000 per year while experienced managers earn between $20,000 and $50,000 per year.

Work Environment

• Most work will be done in greenhouses, which usually are very hot • Outdoors most of the time during varying weather conditions

• Some office work will be required

Becoming a Greenhouse Manager

• In high school, students need to take classes in math, science, biology, and English.• Agriculture classes will be important in achieving skills for employment. Such classes include: turfgrass management, fruit and vegetable production, floriculture, landscaping, greenhouse management, nursery, and landscaping/management.• Internships will also help you prepare for this career. Internships or part-time jobs with local greenhouses will help increase your experience level.

Career Resources

Society of American Florists1601 Duke Street

Alexandria, VA 22314Internet: http://www.safnow.org/

American Horticultural Society7931 East Boulevard Dr

Alexandria VA 22308Internet: www.ahs.org/

American Society for Horticultural Science113 South West St, Suite 200

Alexandria, VA 22314Internet: www.ashs.org/

American Nursery and Landscape Association1250 I St NW Ste 500Washington DC 20005Internet: www.anla.org/