Starting Salaries for College Graduates

I always have discussions this time of year with participants in the green industry who are looking for bright, energetic college graduates to work in their business. Of course, they always ask how much should they expect to pay. Relative to other disciplines, starting salaries for horticulture students probably fall somewhere slightly below the middle of the spectrum below, averaging around $35,000. Then again, if we're really talking about the best and brightest, those students usually come at $5-8K premium, particularly those with an internship or two under their belt. After a year of so on the job, of course, this usually goes up dramatically for those who make the cut.