Botany/Plant Biology Major

Botany/plant biology is a major that typically falls into the Biological & Biomedical Sciences category.

There are 3 programs available throughout the country that offer an associate’s degree in botany, 48 that offer a bachelor’s degree, and 69 that offer a master’s degree. There are also at least 67 schools in the nation where you can get your doctorate degree in the field.

Who Is Getting a Botany Degree?

Botany/plant biology is one of the least chosen majors in the country, ranked #234 in popularity. About 300 students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the field in 2017. According to recent stats this major attracts about equal numbers of men and women. Roughly 53.1% of the graduates are women, and 46.9% are men.

Racial Distribution

At the countrywide level, the racial distribution of botany majors is as follows:

• Asian: 5.9%
• Black or African American: 0.7%
• Hispanic or Latino: 10.8%
• White: 72.7%
• Non-Resident Alien: 1%
• Other Races: 8.7%

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in botany. About 1% of those graduating in 2017 were international students. The most popular countries sending botany majors to the U.S. are China, India and Nepal.

What Will You Learn as a Botany/Plant Biology Major?

An O*NET survey asked people with careers related to botany to rate how important certain subject areas were to their job. The following are some of the results of that survey. Importance was 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:

Skills for Botany Majors

The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to botany:

Abilities for Botany Majors

As a botany major, you will find yourself needing the following abilities:

What Can You Do With a Botany Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with botany:

Careers Related to Botany/Plant Biology

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Natural Sciences Managers	9.9%	$123,860
Clinical Research Coordinators	9.9%	$123,860
Water Resource Specialists	9.9%	$123,860
Biological Science Professors	15.1%	$82,550
Molecular and Cellular Biologists	8%	$79,590

Botany/Plant Biology Major Salary

Average salaries range from $84,000 to $140,000 for careers related to botany. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, the typical high school graduate makes between $29,000 and $57,000 a year. The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $44,000 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,000 and $120,000.

The area of the country you choose to work in will also affect your career and salary prospects. Getting a graduate degree may open up more options with higher salary potential.

Amount of Education Required for Botany/Plant Biology Major Jobs

Some careers associated with botany may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. 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 Levels for Careers Associated With Botany/Plant Biology

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Less Than a High School Diploma	0.7%
High School Diploma or Equivalent	1.7%
Post-Secondary Certificate	1.8%
Some College Courses	0%
Associate's Degree or Equivalent	2.4%
Bachelor's Degree	35.6%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate	2%
Master's Degree	18.8%
Post-Master's Certificate	0%
First Professional Degree	0%
Doctoral Degree	19.9%
Post-Doctoral Training	17%

Online Botany/Plant Biology Programs

There are 48 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in botany/plant biology, with 0 of them offering at least some courses online.

Online learners must listen or watch video lectures, participate in group chats or forums, submit papers and assignments electronically, take tests, and meet deadlines.

Getting your degree online is not easy and includes watching and listening to hours of lectures, participating in group charts, submitting papers by the appropriate deadline and taking tests. Some online programs will also feature internships or in-person clinical hours.

Is a Botany/Plant Biology Major Worth It?

The median salary for a botany grad is $97,000 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 150% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,168,800 after 20 years!

Related Majors

• General Biology
• Biochemistry & Biophysics
• Botany/Plant Biology
• Cell Biology & Anatomical Sciences
• Microbiology Science & Immunology
• Zoology
• Genetics
• Physiology & Pathology Sciences
• Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Biomathematics & Bioinformatics
• Biotechnology
• Ecology & Systematics Biology
• Molecular Medicine
• Neurobiology & Neurosciences
• Other Biological Sciences

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
O*NET Online
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