Nursery Owners and Managers

Earnings vary widely and are greatly influenced by the abilities of the individual owner, the type of product or service being sold, and existing economic conditions. In a given year, some retail nursery owners might earn less than $15,000 a year, while the most successful owners could earn $200,000 or more.

Nursery managers employed in the U.S. in 2024 earned an average salary of $48,220, according to PayScale.com. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, median annual earnings of agricultural managers (including those who manage nurseries and greenhouses) were $83,770 in May of 2023. Salaries ranged from less than $47,800 for the lowest paid 10 percent to more than $136,410 per year for the top paid 10 percent. In addition to a salary, some stores offer their managers special bonuses, or commissions, which are typically connected to the store's performance. Many stores also offer employee discounts on store merchandise.