SOC 5112 Skilled agricultural and related trades

Horticultural trades Salary

Median salary £24,613 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £25,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For horticultural trades, £27,262 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -30% versus the national average.

About this role

Horticultural trades professionals cultivate plants, trees, flowers and crops for commercial sale, landscaping, food production or amenity purposes. They propagate, grow, maintain and harvest plants using specialist knowledge of horticulture, soils and growing conditions.

Key responsibilities

Propagating, growing and maintaining plants and crops
Managing growing conditions including watering, feeding and pest control
Operating greenhouse, nursery and growing equipment
Harvesting, grading and preparing plants or produce for sale
Maintaining growing areas and horticultural infrastructure

Qualifications and entry routes

RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) qualifications at Level 2+ are the industry standard. NVQ/City & Guilds in horticulture or an HNC/HND provide formal routes. Apprenticeships in horticulture are available.

Career outlook

Growing interest in food production, green infrastructure and horticultural therapy is creating new opportunities. Labour shortages exist across commercial horticulture.

Key skills

Plant knowledge Growing techniques Pest and disease management Physical fitness Attention to seasonal timing

Common industries

Commercial nurseries
Garden centres
Parks and estates
Market gardens
Botanical gardens

Data coverage

SOC code 5112

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Median Salary

£24,613

Mean Salary

£23,693

Jobs (000s)

N/A

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

Median: £24,613

P10: --P25: --Median: £25kP75: --P90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Mid Level

£24,613

3-7 years

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +39.8%Real growth: +1.3%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 8.9%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£24,613

Full-time Only

£27,262

Full-time premium: +£2,649

Horticultural trades salary: common questions

How much do horticultural trades earn in the UK?

Horticultural trades earn a median of £27,262 a year (ONS ASHE 2025).

Is £27,262 a good salary in the UK?

For horticultural trades, £27,262 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -30% versus the national average.

Have horticultural trades salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median horticultural trades pay has risen from £17,841 to £27,262 — +53% in cash terms, or +11% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for horticultural trades?

Male horticultural trades earn a median £26,180 and female horticultural trades £23,838 — a gap of +9.0% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).