Horticultural Science: Now What?
Quick Facts: Agricultural and Food Scientists and Specialists
Found on the Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 2023 Median Pay: $76,400 per year; $36.73 per hour
- Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's degree
- Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
- On-the-job Training: Internship/residency
- Number of Jobs, 2022: 35,400
- Job Outlook, 2022-32: 6% (Faster than average)
- Employment Change, 2022-32: 2,100
What is Horticultural Science?
Concepts and practices vital to the preservation of natural resources in managed plant systems are stressed. This major provides students with the tools and knowledge to work in the horticultural field. Students receive scientific training in the production of herbaceous ornamentals, fruits, and vegetables. In addition, students have the option of taking business courses to complement their horticultural training or to further enhance their scientific training through more courses in basic science. The University-operated greenhouses, vegetable field, and orchard are used as laboratory spaces to provide hands-on experience related to knowledge acquired in the classroom. Successful graduates find employment in plant conservatories and arboreta as well as manage businesses, including direct-market farms, greenhouse operations, landscaping firms and nurseries, or they continue to graduate school for advanced degrees.
What Can I Do With A Degree In Horticultural Science?
Allied Commercial Businesses
Educator
Extension Specialist
Greenhouse Operator
Ground Administrator
Horticulturalist
Horticultural Product Sales & Marketing
Landscape Plant Production and Use
Landscape Nurseries
Landscape Operation
Owner/Manager of Horticultural Business
Plant Breeder
Plant Grower
Plant Production Technician
Plant Propagator
Pollination Specialist
Public Outreach
Researcher
Retail Business
Selection of past UMass student internship sites:
- Bass Rocks Golf Course
- Oyster Harbors Club Inc.
- Center for Agriculture, Food & Environment
- Smith College Botanic Garden
- Trustees of Reservations
- Bay Natives Nursery
Selection of Internship Sites advertised by Stockbridge School of Agriculture: (https://www.umass.edu/stockbridge/internships )
- Abundance Farm
- Backyard Growers
- Bardwell Farm
- Book and Plow Farm
- Boston Area Gleaners
- Broadfork Permaculture
- Clark Organic Farm
- Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)
- Essex Farm
- Fort River Farm
- Foxfire Farm
- Fungi Ally
- Gallatin Valley Botanical
- Green Rivers Farms
- Laughing Dog Farm
- Meeting Place Pastures
- Morning Glory Farm
- Natural Roots Farm Apprenticeship Program
- Nourse Farm
- Nourishing the North Shore (NNS)
- Orchard Hill Breadworks
- People’s Medicine Project
- Sampson Farm LP
- Share the Harvest Farm
- Simple Gifts Farm
- Sirius Eco-Village
- Small Ones Farm
- Stout Oak Farm
- The Farm School
- The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
- UMass Amherst Student Farm
- UMass Hydrofarm
- Unadilla Farm
- Yard Birds Farm
Career Planning Resources & Websites
Career Exploration Tools: https://www.umass.edu/careers/career-journey/self-discovery
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/ooh
Massachusetts Career Information System: http://masscis.intocareers.org
(Click Mass Resident to login with “Amherst/01003” Then click “Occupations” or “Assessments”)
Soil Science Society of America: https://www.soils.org/careers/
Bio Careers: Ag-Research: https://biocareers.com/category/career-paths/ag-research/
Careers in Soil Science: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov
Reports on Jobs in the Growing Green Economy: https://www.findingearthworks.com/resources/
Horticultural Science Job and Internship Search Resources
UMass Amherst Specific Job Search Resources
UMass Handshake Database of Internships & Jobs: https://umass.joinhandshake.com/
UMass Amherst Dept of Horticultural Science: https://www.umass.edu/earth-sustainability/horticultural-sciences
UMass Amherst Local Sustainability Jobs/Internships: www.umass.edu/sustainability/resources
Horticulture & Green Jobs
AgHires: https://aghires.com/horticulture/massachusetts-ma
Center for Ecological Technology (Northampton): https://www.cetonline.org/jobs/
Earthworks Jobs By Category: http://earthworks-jobs.com/
Environmental Career (post resume & apply through): https://environmentalcareer.com/
Environmental Career Opportunities (ECO): http://www.ecojobs.com/
Environmental Health & Safety Jobs: http://ehscareers.com/search
Environmental Jobs: http://environmentaljobs.com
Green Jobs (store resumes &and apply through site): http://www.greenjobs.net/
Green Job Search: www.greenjobsearch.org
GreenBiz Jobs Board: http://jobs.greenbiz.com
Global Vision International Careers Abroad: www.careersabroad.co.uk/vacancies
Jobs in Horticulture: https://www.hortjobs.com/
Hire Horticulture: https://www.hirehorticulture.com/
LinkedIn Green Job and Career Network: www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=77194
Local Internships: http://www.gcc.mass.edu/internships/list/
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (Mass CEC): http://www.masscec.com/work-clean-energy/jobs
Massachusetts (State) Environmental Agencies: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies
National Environmental Health Assoc Job Board: https://www.neha.org/careers?utm_source=web&utm_medium=home_icon
Alliance of Crop, Soil and Environmental Science Societies: https://www.careerplacement.org/
Texas A&M Wildlife & Fisheries Jobs Board (some intl): https://wfscjobs.tamu.edu/job-board/
Water Industry Jobs: www.waterjobsnow.com
Water Environment Federation (WEF) Job Bank: http://jobbank.wef.org/jobseekers
World Wildlife Federation Jobs: https://wwf.panda.org/jobs_wwf/
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Jobs: https://www.epa.gov/careers
USA Jobs (for ALL Federal Govt Jobs): www.usajobs.gov
General Science Jobs
General Science Jobs (widely defined): http://jobs.sciencecareers.org
General Science Jobs (widely defined): http://jobs.newscientist.com/
NatureJobs (widely defined): www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/
Internships and Lab/Field Research
American Geological Institute (Geosci & Public Policy): www.americangeosciences.org
Campus Access List of Environmental Internships: www.campusaccess.com/internships
Cool Works Internships: www.coolworks.com/internships
Ecological Society of America: Fieldwork Internships: https://www.esacareercenter.org/
Internships in Federal Government Agencies (EPA etc): www.usajobs.gov/Search?Internship=Yes
National Park Service Internships (nationwide): https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/workwithus.htm
National Science Foundation REUs: https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/
NYC Parks and Recreation Internships: https://www.nycgovparks.org/
What Do Employers Look For? (NACE 2024 Job Outlook for Students)
Top 10 Skills Employers Seek on Candidate Resumes
- Problem-solving skills
- Ability to work in a team
- Communication skills (written)
- Strong work ethic
- Flexibility/adaptability
- Communication (verbal)
- Technical Skills
- Analytical/Quantitative Skills
- Initiative
- Detail-oriented
Top 7 Attributes that can positively influence employers the most
- Internship with the organization
- Internship within the industry
- Major
- General work experience
- Leadership experience
- Extracurricular activities
- High GPA (3.0 or above)