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Horticultural Therapists


Overview

Horticultural Therapists

Introduction

Horticultural therapists combine their love of plants and nature with their desire to help people improve their lives. They use gardening, plant care, and other nature-oriented activities as therapy tools for helping their clients feel better by doing such things as focusing on a project, improving social skills, and being physically active. In addition to these benefits, clients experience emotional benefits, such as feeling secure, responsible, and needed. Horticultural therapists' clients can include nursing home residents, psych...

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$65,454

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

Bachelor's Degree


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Experience

Previous experience in horticulture
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Skills

Interpersonal
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Personality Traits

Hands On
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Earnings

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the median annual earnings of recreational therapists (a career that includes horticultural therapists) were $47,860 in May 2018. Salaries ranged from less than $29,590 to $77,050 or more a year. 

According to PayScale.com, horticultural therapists earned average salaries of $65,454 in 2020. Earnings ranged from $49,000 to $86,000 or more.

Work Environment

Horticultural therapists work in many different environments. City community gardens, classrooms, greenhouses, and hospital psychiatric wards are just a few of the settings. Work environments, therefore, can include being outdoors in the sun all day; being in a locked facility, such as for psychiatric patients or prisoners; being in warm, stuffy greenhouses; and being in an air-conditioned scho...

Outlook

The outlook for horticultural therapists is good. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that employment for recreational therapists (a career that includes horticultural therapists) will growth faster than the average for all careers through 2028. As horticultural therapy gains recognition both from professionals and the public, the demand for it is likely to increase. 

One factor that ma...