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Floral Designer
Floral designers create floral arrangements and purchase, sell, and care for flowers and potted plants in retail flower shops.
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Avg. Salary $40,229.00
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Avg. Wage $21.71
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Minimum Education High school diploma
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Outlook N/A
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Employed < 1500
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In Demand Medium
Also Known As
Artistic Floral Arranger, Designer, Florist
NOC Codes
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
- 2006 NOC: Artistic Floral Arrangers (5244.9)
- 2006 NOC-S: Artisans and Craftspersons (F144)
- 2011 NOC: Artisans and craftspersons (5244)
- 2016 NOC: Artisans and craftspersons (5244)
Skills Shortage
Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
24%
24%
Average Wage
Starting
Overall
Top
Average Wage
| Starting | $18.37 |
|---|---|
| Overall | $21.71 |
| Top | $23.09 |
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Certification Not Regulated
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Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg
Interest Codes
The Floral Designer is part of the following larger National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Artistic Floral Arrangers
- INNOVATIVE
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Interest in synthesizing information to design bouquets, corsages, sprays, wreaths and other floral arrangements and to select natural and artificial flowers, foliage and decorative accessories to create arrangements and other floal items
- OBJECTIVE
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Interest in precision working with natural and artificial flowers, foliage and decorative accessories
- SOCIAL
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Interest in speaking with customers to discuss floral settings and to suggest types of flowers, plants, floral arrangements and decorations appropriate for customers' requirements
Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Floral designers use fresh, dried, or artificial flowers to create flower arrangements for home decoration, gifts, corporate accounts, or special occasions such as weddings, funerals, graduations, and birthdays. They may work from:
- Written orders that indicate customers’ preferences for style, colour, type of flower and cost
- Pre-defined menus of advertised arrangements
- Requests based only on selling price in which the designer chooses the colour, design and type of flower
In addition to designing and arranging, floral designers also may cut and condition flowers and foliage for storage to ensure they remain fresh as long as possible. They create in-store and window displays and serve customers over the phone or on the internet. They also may:
- Give advice on the care and maintenance of plants and fresh-cut flowers
- Sell giftware
- Order flowers and supplies from wholesalers and growers
- Create designs for sale at the wholesale level
- Create designs for retail display and sale
- Design shop displays
- Perform general duties such as cleaning merchandise, washing flower buckets and sweeping floors
Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Working conditions in floral shops generally are pleasant. Floral designers should be able to multitask, as they sometimes are required to manage the competing demands of telephone sales, in-store sales, and production deadlines. The job involves considerable standing and requires some heavy lifting.
Floral designers work standard retail hours that often include evenings and weekends. Long hours may be required to complete arrangements on time during holiday seasons and for special occasions. Part-time work is common.
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Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg
Skills & Abilities
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Floral designers need:
- Manual dexterity
- A flair for colour
- Artistic and visual copying skills
- Communication skills
- Interpersonal skills
- No allergies to pollen or plant foliage
They should enjoy:
- Selling merchandise
- Handling flowers
- Working with clear rules and organized methods
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2019
There is no standard minimum education requirement for floral designers. However, good communication, computer, and basic math skills are required. A high school diploma and knowledge of floral design are definite assets when seeking employment.
Floral designers develop the speed, efficiency, and skill set required to create high-quality floral arrangements by taking related education programs or by learning on the job.
Edmonton Public Schools through Metro Continuing Education offers a 30-hour Floral Design Level 1 program and a 28-hour Floral Design Level 2 program.
Floral designers must continue to update their skills and knowledge by attending workshops and design shows and by reading trade publications.
Those who own retail shops need business management skills for:
- Hiring, training, and supervising staff
- Marketing, including advertising, sales, promotions, and window and in-store displays
- Ordering stock, bookkeeping, and basic accounting
Related Education
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
Mount Royal University
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Certification is not required, as there is currently no legislation regulating this occupation.
Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Floral designers may be self-employed or employed by independent florist shops or retail chain stores. They often start as labourers or assistants, unpacking, cutting and preparing flowers for storage, organizing delivery orders and cleaning up. Trainees usually work closely with experienced floral designers, learning basic arrangements and advancing to more elaborate designs. In some shops, individuals may be employed exclusively as designers.
Advancement generally depends on the person’s ability, creativity, and ambition. Experienced floral designers who have business and supervisory skills may advance to shop management positions or open their own retail shops.
In Alberta, floral designers are part of 2 larger 2011 National Occupational Classifications – 6421: Retail salespersons, and 5244: Artisans and craftspersons.
83% of people employed in the Retail and Salespersons and Sales Clerks group work in the Retail Trade industry.
75% of people employed in the Artisans and Craftspersons group work in the following industries:
- Retail Trade [pdf]
- Manufacturing [pdf]
The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
- Trends and events affecting overall employment, especially in the industries listed above
- Location in Alberta
- Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
- Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
- Size of the occupation
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Department store and supermarket employees working in floral departments are paid union rates.
According to the 2013 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Artisans and Craftspersons occupational group earned on average from $16.63 to $20.78 an hour. The overall average wage was $18.53 an hour. More recent data is not available.
Hourly Wage
For full-time and part-time employees
- Low
- High
- Average
- Median
Starting
Overall
Top
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.00 | $27.50 | $18.37 | $18.00 |
| Overall | $16.00 | $33.00 | $21.71 | $20.20 |
| Top | $17.00 | $32.81 | $23.09 | $25.50 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
C: Lower Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition
Lower Reliability, represents a CV of between 15.01% and 33.00% and/or if fewer than 20 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 33% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
Industry Information
| Manufacturing | $46,081 |
|---|---|
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $40,229 |
Skills Shortage
Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
24%
24%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
52%
52%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
0%
0%
Vacancy Rate
N/A
Updated Mar 31, 2019. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
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