Botany/Plant Biology
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Types of Degrees Botany/Plant Biology Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many botany/plant biology graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Bachelor’s Degree | 274 |
Doctor’s Degree | 242 |
Master’s Degree | 164 |
Associate’s Degree | 3 |
Graduate Certificate | 1 |
What Botany/Plant Biology Majors Need to Know
O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to botany and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.
Knowledge Areas for Botany Majors
This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Skills for Botany Majors
botany majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Abilities for Botany Majors
A major in botany will prepare for your careers in which the following abilities are important:

- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
What Can You Do With a Botany/Plant Biology Major?
Below is a list of occupations associated with botany:
Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Biological Science Professors | 15.1% | $82,550 |
Clinical Research Coordinators | 9.9% | $123,860 |
Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 8.0% | $79,590 |
Natural Sciences Managers | 9.9% | $123,860 |
Water Resource Specialists | 9.9% | $123,860 |
Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Botany/Plant Biology?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of botany majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 14 |
Black or African American | 2 |
Hispanic or Latino | 19 |
White | 209 |
International Students | 1 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 29 |
Geographic Diversity
Botany appeals to people across the globe. About 0.4% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- China
- India
- Nepal
- Taiwan
- Brazil
How Much Do Botany/Plant Biology Majors Make?
Salaries According to BLS
Botany majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $83,600 to $139,680 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Botany/Plant Biology
Some careers associated with botany require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
Find out what the typical degree level is for botany careers below.

Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
Less than a High School Diploma | 0.7% |
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 1.7% |
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) | 1.8% |
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.4% |
Bachelor’s Degree | 35.6% |
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 2.0% |
Master’s Degree | 18.8% |
Doctoral Degree | 19.9% |
Post-Doctoral Training | 17.0% |
Online Botany/Plant Biology Programs
In the 2018-2019 academic year, 77 schools offered some type of botany/plant biology program. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
---|---|---|
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 0 | 0 |
Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | 0 |
Certificate (2-4 Years) | 0 | 0 |
Associate’s Degree | 3 | 0 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 2 | 0 |
Post-Baccalaureate | 0 | 0 |
Master’s Degree | 69 | 0 |
Post-Master’s | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 67 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Botany/Plant Biology Worth It?
The median salary for a botany grad is $97,340 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 144% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,148,800 after 20 years!

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Majors Related to Botany/Plant Biology
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to botany.
Major | Number of Grads |
---|---|
General Biology | 98,638 |
Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology | 14,004 |
Neurobiology & Neurosciences | 9,504 |
Physiology & Pathology Sciences | 7,844 |
Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology | 6,987 |
Cell Biology & Anatomical Sciences | 5,671 |
Microbiological Sciences & Immunology | 4,469 |
Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Other) | 3,646 |
Biotechnology | 3,591 |
Zoology | 2,974 |
Biomathematics & Bioinformatics | 2,404 |
Genetics | 1,326 |
Pharmacology & Toxicology | 1,148 |
Molecular Medicine | 71 |
References
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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