Floral Designers
Design, cut, and arrange live, dried, or artificial flowers and foliage.
Also called: Artificial Foliage Arranger, Floral Arranger, Floral Artist, Floral Assistant, Floral Associate, Floral Business Owner
Median pay
$37,360
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$28,600 – $51,000
People employed
40,590
Holland code
RAC
Realistic · Artistic · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 2.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 3.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 4.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Long hours on your feet
Floral Designers pay by state
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What floral designers do
- 01Plan arrangement according to client's requirements, using knowledge of design and properties of materials, or select appropriate standard design pattern.
- 02Trim material and arrange bouquets, wreaths, terrariums, and other items, using trimmers, shapers, wire, pins, floral tape, foam, and other materials.
- 03Confer with clients regarding price and type of arrangement desired and the date, time, and place of delivery.
- 04Perform office and retail service duties, such as keeping financial records, serving customers, answering telephones, selling giftware items, and receiving payment.
- 05Wrap and price completed arrangements.
- 06Deliver arrangements to customers, or oversee employees responsible for deliveries.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Sales and Marketing
- Design
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from floral designers
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers76% · +11%
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers74% · +11%
- Retail Salespersons74% · −5%
- Photographers72% · +20%
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists69% · −4%
Change into floral designers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists71% · $35,790
- Photographers70% · $44,660
- Manicurists and Pedicurists67% · $35,760
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers66% · $41,640
- Cooks, Private Household61% · $47,940