Floral Designer Career

florist-500Floral design is a popular career choice for creative and people-oriented professionals. Floral designers create beautiful arrangements and bouquets for a variety of holidays, events, and special occasions and bring joy to many people. Florists will arrange flowers, greenery, ribbons, accessories and other accents to create a unique display for customers, venues, and events.

Floral designers work in a variety of work settings and locations. Many modern florists will work in a flower-specific shop or boutique or a grocery store with a floral department. Still others will work for a service-based company like a wedding planning company or event hall. Floral designers also have the opportunity for entrepreneurship and can explore the option of branching out to own their own shop or service. Hours for this type of job are very flexible and many florists can choose their own schedules.

Floral Designer Career Snapshot

Further details on a career as a floral designer are listed below (statistics from the May 2016 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):

$25,850

is the average annual salary for floral designers.

-3%

decrease in employment between 2014 and 2024.

76%

have a High school diploma while 11% have some college, but no degree.

Floral Designer Education

Floral designers have limited formal educational requirements. Many are self-taught or trained and simply have a creative knack for floral design. In fact, only eight percent of florists report having a bachelor’s degree. Many high schools offer a floral class as an elective and these classes generally spark interest and attract people to the industry.

Floral Designer Job Duties

Florists will use their eye for aesthetics to create beautiful decor and arrangements. They may also engage in customer service helping guests pick flower types, ribbons, or display cases and vases. It’s a rewarding job with the opportunity to help others create something beautiful.

Floral Designer Salaries

According to BLS.gov, the 2015 median salary for a floral designer landed around $28,850. The top ten percent of earners in this industry reported earnings of $39,100 and the bottom ten percent reported salaries around $18,760. Florists who own their own business can expect to earn significantly more than these numbers.

Floral Designer Job Outlook

Job growth in this field is anticipated to be around three percent over the next decade. Competitive gift markets have contributed to this low growth rate, but many people still love the gift of a flower bouquet and there are many events that still require the assistance of floral design.

Floral Designer Skills & Traits

Floral Design Skill Set:Required Abilities:Tools Used by Floral Designers:Typical Work Activities:
• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Service Orientation
• Social Perceptiveness
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Visualization
• Near Vision
• Greenhouse irrigation equipment
• Netting
• Radio frequency identification devices
• Ribbon scissors
• Getting Information
• Thinking Creatively
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public

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