14 Types of Botany Jobs (Plus Duties and Salaries)

Updated February 16, 2023

A botanist is a professional who uses scientific knowledge to study plants. They can work in many different environments, as some may focus more on lab work while others spend time in the field. If you're interested in becoming a botanist, learning more about the positions you can get with a bachelor's or master's degree can be beneficial.

In this article, we explain what botany is, compare it with horticulture, list eight botany jobs you can get with a bachelor's degree and detail six you can get with a master's.

What is botany?

Botany is the study of plants, and botanists focus on how plants interact with one another, what their genetic makeup is like and their physical appearance. A botany professional is an expert in identifying and classifying plants, and they may perform lab or fieldwork to learn more about how to preserve plant life and help it flourish. Botanists can study plant life in all regions, including the rainforest, desert and the ocean.

Horticulture vs. botany

These are some differences between horticulture and botany:

Requirements: A botanist likely requires at least a bachelor's degree to start in entry-level positions. Employers may only require that horticulturalists have a high school diploma to begin working.
Tasks: Botany is the process of studying and learning more about plants, while horticulture is the process of helping plants to grow. Horticulturalists may focus on aspects of raising plants like fertilization and irrigation.
Workplace: Botanists are often team members for science-oriented workplaces, while horticulturalists are more involved in the process of growing and tending to plants.

8 botany jobs you can pursue with a bachelor's degree

Here are eight botany jobs you can pursue with a bachelor's degree. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, visit indeed.com/salaries.

1. Naturalist

National average salary: $31,988 per year

Primary duties: A naturalist is a professional who generally studies the relationships between various living things and the places they live. Naturalists may study how those relationships change in response to ecological effects over periods of time.

2. Laboratory assistant

National average salary: $41,005 per year

Primary duties: The lab assistant in a botany laboratory collects samples and processes tests. They may assist with keeping the lab clean and recording scientific findings.

3. Wildlife specialist

National average salary: $47,045 per year

Primary duties: A wildlife specialist with a focus on botany studies plant organisms within ecosystems to learn more about how they function. The specialist gathers information about structure, migration and population.

4. Forest warden

National average salary: $59,046 per year

Primary duties: A forest warden is a professional who helps to maintain wooded areas and public lands. They can use their knowledge of botany to protect plants and educate visitors about which plants are safe for interaction.

5. Professor

National average salary: $59,243 per year

Primary duties: A botany professor teaches botany students the information they can use to be successful professionals. The professor may hold lectures, conduct examinations, meet with students and grade projects.

6. Agricultural engineer

National average salary: $66,507 per year

Primary duties: Agricultural engineers are professionals who address agricultural issues through design and development. They implement solutions to agriculture problems with an aim of protecting the environment.

7. Researcher

National average salary: $71,969 per year

Primary duties: The botany researcher gathers information about plants. They may collect samples during fieldwork or study published botany materials to collect information.

8. Cell biologist

National average salary: $75,774 per year

Primary duties: Cell biologists with a focus on botany are scientists who study plants at the smallest biological level. They assess the physical structure of cells, learn more about how they interact with other organisms and understand plant disease by how it attacks and changes cells.

6 botany jobs you can pursue with a master's degree

For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, visit indeed.com/salaries. Here are six botany jobs you can pursue with a master's degree:

1. Environmental scientist

National average salary: $59,578 per year

Primary duties: Environmental scientists are professionals who use their knowledge of botany and other sciences to protect the environment. They may perform more fieldwork than other roles on this list.

2. Chemist

National average salary: $74,226 per year

Primary duties: A chemist is someone who studies the fundamental make-up of substances to learn more about how they interact with one another. A chemist with a focus on botany may study plants to learn more about how chemicals interact with plant anatomy and how plants create and digest them.

3. Aborist

National average salary: $74,852 per year

Primary duties: Aborists are plant professionals who focus on trees. They have thorough knowledge on tree species, how to raise trees and how to combat common illnesses various trees may face.

4. Ecologist

National average salary: $76,715 per year

Primary duties: An ecologist collects samples during fieldwork to learn more about current biodiversity. They propose methods for supporting wildlife and public areas to help fauna flourish.

5. Lab director

National average salary: $109,817 per year

Primary duties: A lab director is a manager or leader within a laboratory who oversees all daily operations. They implement policy, hire new staff, ensure team members adhere to safety regulations, order new equipment and approve experiments or projects for teams within the lab.

6. Biostatistician

National average salary: $121,377 per year

Primary duties: A biostatistician is a professional who uses statistical science to gather and assess information about biological topics. Biostatistians who focus on botany may learn more about current plant life populations and use statistics to determine the predicted rate of extinction for each.