Earning a degree in botany can help you gain the basis of knowledge and skills needed to pursue a diverse array of careers. For instance, such a degree program may allow you to develop marketable competencies in relevant disciplines like plant science, ecology, horticulture, and environmental sustainability. If you’re a current or prospective student of botany, it may be helpful for you to review the many career options you might be eligible for post-graduation. In this article, we explain what a botany degree is and list nine jobs you can pursue with this credential.
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What is a Botany Degree?
A botany degree is an educational qualification that certifies a professional’s knowledge of the biology of plants, including how they function, evolve, and interact with other organisms. Candidates studying botany typically complete a four-year program and concentrate their studies in pursuit of either a bachelor of Science (B.S.) or a bachelor of arts (B.A.), depending on their professional interests and goals. The former degree program generally has a more significant focus on helping students develop the technical skills needed for scientific roles in botany, whereas the latter focuses more strongly on how society and botany intersect.
Both types of degree programs can allow students to develop a foundation of knowledge in plant science and prepare themselves for careers in this field. Here are a few examples of the subjects students might study while earning their degree in botany:
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Biology
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Chemistry
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Mathematics
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Physics
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Biochemistry
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Microbiology
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Molecular biology
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Plant Science
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Marine Science
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Plant genetics
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Field ecology
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Plant taxonomy
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Environmental science
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Sustainability
9 jobs you can get with a botany degree
Here are nine jobs you might be able to pursue with a botany degree, including descriptions of each role’s primary duties and salary information. For the most up-to-date Indeed salaries, please click the links below:
1. Park ranger
National average salary: $36,203 per year
Primary duties: Park rangers are law enforcement professionals who are responsible for the protection and conservation of natural areas and their resources. These professionals commonly patrol and secure parks, offer emergency services, and ensure that visitors follow guidelines for proper engagement with wildlife, plants, and other natural features. Park rangers typically work for local recreational departments or on behalf of the U.S. National Park Service.
2. Naturalist
National average salary: $39,268 per year
Primary duties: Naturalists are responsible for educating the public about the environment and methods of maintaining, preserving, conserving, and restoring habitats through targeted activities. Depending on their exact roles, these professionals may spearhead programs like nature walks, botanical tours, and classroom lessons on behalf of gardens, nonprofit organizations or schools.
3. Education coordinator
National average salary: $48,841 per year
Primary duties: Education coordinators develop and implement programming to help communities, including both adults and youth, learn about specialized topics in environmental and plant sciences. These professionals commonly work for nonprofit organizations, museums, botanical centers, and schools and may be responsible for planning events, running workshops, and creating curricular standards.
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4. Curator
National average salary: $53,012 per year
Primary duties: Botanical curators typically work for gardens and oversee the day-to-day operations of such facilities. They may be responsible for the development, planning, maintenance, and caretaking of a botanical collection, including living plant species, wildlife habitats, and historically preserved materials. In addition, these professionals may assume the duty of keeping records regarding the care and development of plant collections.
5. Professor
National average salary: $53,060 per year
Primary duties: Botany professors are postsecondary educators who work for institutions of higher education like colleges and universities. These professionals frequently assume a multifaceted role as instructors, student mentors, and researchers. Therefore, they may be responsible for generating syllabi, teaching courses, assessing students, ensuring knowledge acquisition, helping students make progress in their educational careers, overseeing research projects in plant science, and publishing their findings in academic journals. In addition, botany professors may perform various administrative duties, such as attending meetings and sitting on departmental committees.
6. Grower
National average salary: $56,862 per year
Primary duties: Growers commonly work on behalf of agricultural and food production companies. These professionals cultivate horticultural products and maintain certain quality standards by planting, growing, and caring for them. Growers may be responsible for using specialized technical processes and devices to ensure that plants receive the right amount of sunlight, humidity, and nutrients required to sustain their health.
7. Researcher
National average salary: $67,367 per year
Primary duties: Botanical researchers, or botanists, study the various components of plant life. They often work in a field environment, centering their research on the various agricultural uses of plants and studying a crop’s response to different environmental stressors, like climate change or disease. Further, depending on their particular goals, these professionals may study and breed new strains of plants to develop more environmentally sustainable varietals.
8. Sustainability consultant
National average salary: $74,216 per year
Primary duties: Sustainability consultants help businesses and organizations identify areas of improvement in terms of environmentally friendly policies and practices. They may conduct audits, perform analyses, determine current issues, and generate solutions that organizations can implement to become more sustainable in their operations. Many of these professionals help organizations fulfill the dual goal of reducing their carbon footprint while maintaining profitability.
9. Ecologist
National average salary: $78,109 per year
Primary duties: Ecologists are field researchers who study the intersection of plant and animal life. They commonly observe how organisms interact within a particular habitat or environment and report their findings to help other scientists, like conservationists, gain the knowledge needed to perform their roles. In addition, ecologists may specialize their studies to determine the impact of certain stressors on an environment, such as pollution, industrialization, or climate change.
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