Herbalist Job Opportunities

Working in the herbal world is a wonderful way to get to connect your community with the power of herbs. As an herbalist you can share the magical gifts of plants with people and promote stewardship of the land. Now, it can also be hard to find an herbalist job. Right now you might be asking yourself, what kind of job can I get as an herbalist?

When I first went to herb school, I was skeptical that I would be able to find a job in the herb world, but here I am working at LearningHerbs! As the Communications Director of LearningHerbs I get to write and teach about herbs all day, which is a total dream come true for me. One of the things I’ve learned over the years as an herbalist is that there are so many different ways to be an herbalist — in fact there are as many ways as there are herbalists! And just as there’s no one right way to be an herbalist, there’s also no one-size-fits-all type of job for herbalists.

Working with herbs is a wonderful way to serve your community.

Exploring Jobs for Herbalists

There are some general different career pathways you can explore as an herbalist that I’ll outline below, and also there are opportunities to get creative with how you bring herbalism into your pre-existing work life. Maybe you’re an elementary school teacher, and you plant herbs in the school garden. Perhaps you’re a writer, and you find freelance opportunities to write about herbal recipes. Maybe you’re a chef, and you feature more herbs in your cuisine. The herbalist niche possibilities are endless!

It’s also important to note that there are so many incredible herbalists who don’t necessarily make money as herbalists. You might be a home herbalist who cares for your family with herbs or a kitchen herbalist who loves to share herbal culinary delights with friends; these and more are important herbal roles regardless of whether they allow you to earn money as an herbalist.

So without further adieu, let’s dive into some different types of jobs for herbalists…

Clinical herbalists connect their clients with herbs that can help support their wellness.

1. Clinical Herbalist

One of the most common herbalist jobs is being a clinical herbalist. Clinical herbalists work with clients one-on-one to assess and help address their health concerns with medicinal herbs. Some clinical herbalists work in holistic health clinics, some work from a home office, and others work remotely.

Clinical herbalists are typically experienced herbalists with years of training so that they can confidently and ethically support their clients with medicinal plants. If you’re interested in practicing clinical herbalism, consider checking out some of the schools listed here and finding a program that specifically offers a clinical herbalism training program.

Making herbal remedies can be a fantastic job in the herbal world.

2. Herbal Product Maker

Herbal product makers make herbal products from scratch and sell these through a variety of platforms: online, at natural foods stores, apothecaries, farmers markets, and more. Some herbal product makers work for larger herbal products businesses, but most product makers tend to own their own small herbal business. Herbal product makers tend to have training in good manufacturing practices so that they can ensure the quality of their products.

Growing herbs is an important role in the herbal community.

3. Herbal Grower

Being a medicinal herb farmer gives you the opportunity to spend lots of time with the herbs from seed to harvest. You can either join an existing herb farm’s farm crew or you can start your own farm. Starting a farm can be a big endeavor, so I recommend starting small and also connecting with your local community to asses what herbs they need. Perhaps local restaurants are seeking particular fresh, local herbs or local clinical herbalists are looking for a specific fresh herb to share with their clients.

Educating your community about herbs can be an excellent way to earn a living as an herbalist.

4. Herbal Educator

Herbal educators tend to be trained herbalists who have spent years studying herbalism and are ready to share their knowledge with their community. Some herbal educators work as faculty with herbal schools to teach their students, and some herbal educators like to work for themselves — teaching smaller classes either online or to their local community.

Owning an herbal shop can allow you to create a local hub for your herbal community.

5. Herb Shop Owner

Herb shop owners run a vital resource for their local community. Herb shops can serve as community building hubs and also a place for folks to source vital herbal remedies. Owning an herbal shop is a time-intensive job that requires some seed money and business savvy, and it’s also incredibly rewarding work.

There are so many different ways that you can be an herbalist. Choose the path that works best for you!

Ready for the Next Step on Your Herbal Path?

If you’re ready to learn more about herbs and get inspired by incredible herbal teachers, consider joining HerbMentor. HerbMentor is LearningHerbs’ online platform with over 10 in-depth herbal courses on everything from remedy making to food as medicine to herb gardening.

Here are a few frequently asked questions about herbalist jobs…

Do herbalists make much money?

The amount of money you make as an herbalist really depends on the type of work you do within the herbal world. There is a wide range of the amount of money you can make between these different types of work.

Is there a demand for herbalists?

Yes! As more and more people become interested in holistic health practices and plants, the demand for herbalists has increased.

How do I start a career as an herbalist?

One of the best steps you can take to starting your career as an herbalist is connecting with other herbalists. Whether you connect with other local herbalists or find community online on HerbMentor, building relationships with herbalists can inspire you on your own herbal path.