What Does a Florist Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a florist do?

Floral designers cut and arrange flowers, greenery and other materials into bouquets, centerpieces and displays for customers and events. The median pay is $37,360 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 1–6 months, and employment is projected to grow -5.6% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$37,360
$17.96/hour · May 2025
Job growth
-5.6%
2025–35, a projected decline
Openings per year
5,200
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
BLS classification
Time to train
1–6 months
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
45,200
Employment, 2025

What florists do

Florists create beauty with flowers. They process and care for fresh flowers, design bouquets, centerpieces, corsages and sympathy arrangements, consult with brides and event planners, take orders and deliver arrangements. Many work in florist shops, grocery stores and event companies; others run their own studios.

Most florists learn on the job, sometimes with floral design courses. Creativity and knowledge of flowers matter most. Holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day are the busiest times.

Typical duties

Process and care for fresh flowers
Design bouquets and arrangements
Consult with clients on events
Take orders and handle sales
Create sympathy and holiday arrangements
Set up event flowers
Manage inventory and orders

Work environment and schedule

Florists work in shops, coolers, studios and event venues, standing and lifting buckets.

Schedule: Hours include early mornings, weekends and long days around holidays and weddings.

A day in the life

7:00 AMReceive a flower shipment and process stems.
8:30 AMDesign arrangements for today’s orders.
10:30 AMConsult with a bride about wedding flowers.
12:00 PMCreate a sympathy spray for a funeral.

See a full day in the life of a florist →

Florist salary

Half of florists earned more than $37,360 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $28,600 for the lowest 10% to $51,000 for the top 10%.

$28,60010th$37,360Median$51,00090th

Full florist pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a florist

Get hired at a flower shop
Learn design basics
Take courses
Build a portfolio
Grow

A high school diploma is typical. Florists learn on the job; floral design courses help.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a florist →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Floral design
Flower care and processing
Color and composition
Wedding and event design
Sales and consultation

People skills

Creativity
Customer service
Attention to detail
Time management

All florist skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Creative, beautiful work
Part of happy and meaningful moments
Learn on the job
Own a shop

Cons

Declining employment
Holiday rushes
Modest pay
Standing and lifting

Certifications and licenses

AIFD Certified Floral Designer (CFD): American Institute of Floral Designers credential.
Floral design certificate: Courses from design schools.
State florist certification: Offered in some states.
Wedding and event design courses: Specialized training.

Career path

Floral Assistant: Process flowers and help designers.
Floral Designer: Create arrangements.
Lead Designer: Lead events and teams.
Shop Owner: Run a floral business.

Learn the job before day one

Our Florist training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as process fresh flowers and design a hand-tied bouquet, safety and how to land your first job.

View Florist training Is this career right for me?

Visual Merchandiser

Design store displays and windows that make shoppers stop and buy.

$39,390
1–6 months

Event Planner

Plan and run conferences, weddings, meetings and celebrations.

$61,160
4 years or event experience

Landscaper

Plant, mow, trim and care for lawns, gardens and outdoor spaces.

$39,150
1–4 weeks

Retail Sales Associate

Help shoppers find what they need and keep stores running smoothly.

$35,410
1–2 weeks

Compare: Florist vs. Visual Merchandiser · Florist vs. Event Planner · Florist vs. Landscaper · Florist vs. Retail Sales Associate

Florist FAQ

Do florists need school?

No, but courses help.

Is floristry growing?

Employment is declining, though weddings and events keep demand.

What’s the busiest time?

Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and wedding season.

How much does a florist make?

The median annual wage for florists was $37,360 ($17.96 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $28,600 and the highest 10% earned more than $51,000.

How long does it take to become a florist?

Most people need about 1–6 months of training. A high school diploma is typical. Florists learn on the job; floral design courses help.

Do you need a degree to be a florist?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 27-1023 (Floral designers).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Floral designers (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

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