Floral Layout Designer Schools, Salaries, and Job Data
Floral Layout Designers Job Overview
Floral layout designers cut and assemble dried, live, silk and artificial flowers and foliage. They design the arrangements by choosing containers, ribbons and other decorations, and then put them together for bouquets, wreaths and corsages. They also design the flower arrangements for weddings, special events and funerals, depending on the specifications of the customers.
Floral Layout Designers Schools and Degrees
Official post secondary education is generally not mandatory for entering the profession of floral layout designing. Floral layout designers learn most of their skills while they are on the job. However, universities and community colleges do offer several floral layout designer courses and one can opt for a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in this area. Floral layout designers who run their own businesses would benefit from courses in marketing, business and computers.
Job Requirements
The American Institute of Floral Designers offers accreditation, which helps advance their professional careers. Floral layout designers can also choose to undergo formal training in the subject. This is particularly helpful for those wishing to start their own businesses.
It is important for floral layout designers to be creative and service oriented. They should also be good communicators and listeners since they need to understand the requirements of their customers. To excel in the field of floral layout designing, one needs to be aware of the latest trends. Floral layout designers should also be able to work independently when required. In addition, the capability to work within given budgets and deadlines is an important requirement.
Nature of Work
Floral layout designers work in independent shops and focus on orders from customers. They design flowers for different occasions and work according to the needs and requirements of the clients. They design the flowers according to the occasion, the price of the order and customer preferences. Some also help interior designers with flower layouts at hotels, private residences and restaurants.
Floral layout designers mostly work in comfortable settings at retail outlets or residences. They may have to make small trips to design floral layouts at special events, or to buy and deliver flowers. They are susceptible to pollen grain allergies and minor injuries from knives and scissors.
Floral Layout Designers Jobs and Outlook
According to statistics from 2006, there were about 87,000 floral layout designers in the US. Employment is the highest in the following establishments:
Floral Departments within Grocery Stores
Florist Shops
General Merchandise Stores
Internet Floral Shops
Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supply Stores
Wholesale Companies
The average annual earnings of a floral layout designer are around $21,000.
Job Numbers and Growth
About 87,000 floral layout designers are employed nationally. Workers can expect a low level of unemployment, if history can be used as a guide. In 2008, 4% of employees could not find jobs.
Area Job Conditions
Popular locations for floral layout designers include Pocatello (Idaho), Idaho Falls (Idaho), and Goldsboro (North Carolina). Fewer are found in McAllen (Texas), Honolulu (Hawaii), and Oakland (California).
Workers looking for high salaries should look at San Jose (California), Newark (New Jersey), and Oakland (California), and should avoid Goldsboro (North Carolina), McAllen (Texas), and Decatur (Alabama).
Training and Education
Employees often obtain moderate-term on-the-job training before starting. The percentage of floral layout designers with college degrees is 55%. Workers with some college (less than a bachelor's degree) represent about 31% of the total. Some employees, about 14%, had a high-school education. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.
Part-Time Work and Self-Employment
Part-time floral layout designers are 17% of all surveyed. Some workers, about 33%, work for themselves.
Floral Layout Designers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Schools recommended for people interested in this career. Request info with quick online forms. These particular schools are noted for getting back to people fast.
Schools recommended for people interested in this career. Request info with quick online forms. These particular schools are noted for getting back to people fast.