Becoming a Botanist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Ashford University, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering environmental science courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
environmental sciences professors,
environmental engineers,
environmental scientists,
environmental health professionals,
environmental specialists,
environmental analysts, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 11,830 people employed as
soil and plant scientists alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$65,180.
Conservation scientists make on average $61,180
per year and there are about 16,810
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Ashford University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Botanist
- college
- national forest
- garden
- herbaria
- research department
- laboratory
- pharmaceutical company
- petrochemical company
- forest service office
- national park
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Botanist
- starting salaries in this area may be around $22 000 a year
- senior lecturers at universities may earn around $55000
- botanists in research posts earn up to $27,500
- salaries for people working in private industry will vary considerably
- research skills
- practical skills
- problem solving ability
- patience perseverance and good concentration
- the ability to analyze interpret and report on data
- an interest in nature and the environment
Potential Drawbacks
- be exposed to chemicals
- have to learn scientific names for all flowers
- be in dangerous places
- go into the rain forest
- be exposed to potentially deadly poisons from some flowers
- travel frequently
- be away from family
- spends enormous amounts of time developing scientific theories
- work by yourself
- be in charge of other people
Related Professions to Consider
- Botanist /Plant Ecologist
- Expert Botanist
- Staff Botanist
- Botanist /Wetland Ecologist
- Senior Botanist
- Biologist/ Botanist /Forester
- Forest Ecologist/ Botanist
- Arboretum Research Botanist
- Senior Environmental Biologist
- Senior Biologist for Environmental Practice Group
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Botanist
- How to identify Hetero chromatin and euchromatin?
- What are plasmodesmata?
- Difference between Purine and Pyrimidine?
- Differentiate alpha-taxonomy and omega-taxonomy?
- Siliqua is the characteristic fruit of which family?
- What is meant by PEN?
- What is the difference between Histogram and Chasmogamy?
- What is the difference between Geitonogamy and Xenogamy?
- What is Gynandrophore?
- What is the characteristic inflorescence of the family Asteraceae?
Common Collaborating Professions
- plant scientist
- biologist
- field botanist
- plant analyst
- soil scientist
- plant consultant
- botanical trainer
- research analyst
- botany teacher
- botany professor
Botanist Training books
Botanist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- arts
- business
- communications
- community services
- computer & information sciences
- education
- engineering & technology
- medicine & allied health
- science & math
- social sciences
Botanist Salary Information
Category: Soil and plant scientists
| Total # Employed in the US |
11,830 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$31.34/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16.79 |
$21.67 |
$28.45 |
$37.79 |
$51.76 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$65,180 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $34,930 |
$45,070 |
$59,180 |
$78,590 |
$107,670 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.5% |
4.2% |
8.9% |
7.5% |
41.4% |
23.4% |
14.2% |
|
Soil and plant scientists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
| New York |
$68.64/hr
|
$142,770
|
| Mississippi |
$41.55/hr
|
$86,420
|
| Delaware |
$38.32/hr
|
$79,710
|
| New Hampshire |
$37.77/hr
|
$78,550
|
| Hawaii |
$37.2/hr
|
$77,370
|
| Colorado |
$35.99/hr
|
$74,860
|
| Missouri |
$35.14/hr
|
$73,080
|
| Alabama |
$35.08/hr
|
$72,960
|
| Nebraska |
$34.93/hr
|
$72,650
|
| Alaska |
$34.57/hr
|
$71,910
|
| Kansas |
$34.47/hr
|
$71,700
|
| Indiana |
$33.93/hr
|
$70,580
|
| North Dakota |
$33.72/hr
|
$70,130
|
| Massachusetts |
$33.45/hr
|
$69,570
|
| Ohio |
$32.82/hr
|
$68,280
|
| Nevada |
$32.54/hr
|
$67,680
|
| Kentucky |
$32.44/hr
|
$67,470
|
| Puerto Rico |
$32.2/hr
|
$66,980
|
| Oklahoma |
$31.56/hr
|
$65,650
|
| Washington |
$31.26/hr
|
$65,030
|
| Louisiana |
$31.18/hr
|
$64,860
|
| Oregon |
$30.72/hr
|
$63,890
|
| Tennessee |
$30.57/hr
|
$63,580
|
| Connecticut |
$29.52/hr
|
$61,400
|
| California |
$29.15/hr
|
$60,640
|
| Utah |
$28.45/hr
|
$59,170
|
| Guam |
$28.17/hr
|
$58,600
|
| Wisconsin |
$28.14/hr
|
$58,530
|
| Arkansas |
$27.75/hr
|
$57,710
|
| Pennsylvania |
$27.32/hr
|
$56,820
|
| Montana |
$27.29/hr
|
$56,760
|
| District of Columbia |
$27.03/hr
|
$56,220
|
| Iowa |
$26.99/hr
|
$56,130
|
| South Carolina |
$26.54/hr
|
$55,210
|
| Maine |
$26.52/hr
|
$55,150
|
| Wyoming |
$25.98/hr
|
$54,030
|
| Michigan |
$25.34/hr
|
$52,720
|
| South Dakota |
$25.25/hr
|
$52,530
|
| West Virginia |
$25.05/hr
|
$52,100
|
| Idaho |
$24.99/hr
|
$51,980
|
| Maryland |
$24.95/hr
|
$51,900
|
| New Jersey |
$24.88/hr
|
$51,750
|
| New Mexico |
$24.22/hr
|
$50,370
|
Category: Conservation scientists
| Total # Employed in the US |
16,810 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$29.41/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $17.1 |
$22.18 |
$28.92 |
$35.26 |
$42.25 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$61,180 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $35,570 |
$46,140 |
$60,160 |
$73,340 |
$87,890 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.8% |
1.1% |
7.2% |
6.5% |
62.8% |
18.2% |
3.5% |
|
Conservation scientists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
| Alaska |
$40.76/hr
|
$84,790
|
| Hawaii |
$35.7/hr
|
$74,260
|
| Florida |
$35.61/hr
|
$74,070
|
| Massachusetts |
$33.79/hr
|
$70,290
|
| North Carolina |
$33.47/hr
|
$69,620
|
| Delaware |
$33.47/hr
|
$69,610
|
| Colorado |
$33.24/hr
|
$69,140
|
| Mississippi |
$33.24/hr
|
$69,130
|
| Maine |
$32.8/hr
|
$68,230
|
| Kansas |
$32.64/hr
|
$67,890
|
| California |
$32.43/hr
|
$67,450
|
| Washington |
$32.43/hr
|
$67,450
|
| Indiana |
$32.42/hr
|
$67,440
|
| Wisconsin |
$32.04/hr
|
$66,630
|
| Tennessee |
$31.67/hr
|
$65,870
|
| Maryland |
$31.26/hr
|
$65,030
|
| South Dakota |
$30.92/hr
|
$64,320
|
| North Dakota |
$30.46/hr
|
$63,350
|
| New Mexico |
$30.44/hr
|
$63,310
|
| Pennsylvania |
$30.44/hr
|
$63,320
|
| Nebraska |
$30.35/hr
|
$63,120
|
| Alabama |
$30.15/hr
|
$62,720
|
| Ohio |
$30.04/hr
|
$62,490
|
| Connecticut |
$29.69/hr
|
$61,760
|
| Idaho |
$29.51/hr
|
$61,370
|
| Montana |
$29.4/hr
|
$61,150
|
| Iowa |
$29.26/hr
|
$60,850
|
| South Carolina |
$29.02/hr
|
$60,370
|
| Arkansas |
$28.82/hr
|
$59,940
|
| Kentucky |
$28.77/hr
|
$59,850
|
| Wyoming |
$28.56/hr
|
$59,400
|
| New Jersey |
$27.88/hr
|
$57,980
|
| Missouri |
$27.68/hr
|
$57,570
|
| Puerto Rico |
$27.49/hr
|
$57,170
|
| New York |
$27.08/hr
|
$56,330
|
| Guam |
$27.07/hr
|
$56,300
|
| Michigan |
$26.73/hr
|
$55,600
|
| Oklahoma |
$26.72/hr
|
$55,570
|
| West Virginia |
$26.17/hr
|
$54,440
|
| Oregon |
$26.17/hr
|
$54,430
|
| Nevada |
$25.57/hr
|
$53,180
|
| New Hampshire |
$25.48/hr
|
$53,010
|
| Louisiana |
$24.73/hr
|
$51,440
|
| Utah |
$21.2/hr
|
$44,090
|
Category: Biological technicians
| Total # Employed in the US |
74,560 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$19.78/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $11.8 |
$14.74 |
$18.61 |
$23.72 |
$29.51 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$41,140 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $24,540 |
$30,650 |
$38,700 |
$49,340 |
$61,380 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.9% |
18.9% |
17.4% |
10.7% |
35.3% |
6.9% |
7.8% |
|
Biological technicians — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
| Missouri |
$25.2/hr
|
$52,420
|
| Delaware |
$23.79/hr
|
$49,490
|
| Nebraska |
$22.71/hr
|
$47,250
|
| Mississippi |
$22.69/hr
|
$47,190
|
| Colorado |
$21.98/hr
|
$45,710
|
| North Dakota |
$21.76/hr
|
$45,250
|
| Utah |
$20.71/hr
|
$43,070
|
| Oklahoma |
$20.62/hr
|
$42,890
|
| Oregon |
$20.12/hr
|
$41,850
|
| Louisiana |
$19.87/hr
|
$41,330
|
| District of Columbia |
$19.8/hr
|
$41,180
|
| Kansas |
$19.55/hr
|
$40,660
|
| Idaho |
$19.51/hr
|
$40,580
|
| North Carolina |
$19.21/hr
|
$39,950
|
| Michigan |
$18.84/hr
|
$39,180
|
| Ohio |
$18.78/hr
|
$39,060
|
| Virginia |
$18.76/hr
|
$39,020
|
| Puerto Rico |
$18.65/hr
|
$38,780
|
| New Hampshire |
$18.55/hr
|
$38,590
|
| Maine |
$18.52/hr
|
$38,520
|
| Nevada |
$18.16/hr
|
$37,780
|
| Alabama |
$18.15/hr
|
$37,740
|
| South Carolina |
$17.89/hr
|
$37,210
|
| Wisconsin |
$17.62/hr
|
$36,650
|
| Tennessee |
$17.59/hr
|
$36,580
|
| Washington |
$17.59/hr
|
$36,580
|
| Alaska |
$17.55/hr
|
$36,500
|
| Hawaii |
$17.34/hr
|
$36,070
|
| New Mexico |
$17.32/hr
|
$36,020
|
| Wyoming |
$17.26/hr
|
$35,900
|
| Kentucky |
$17.2/hr
|
$35,780
|
| California |
$16.91/hr
|
$35,180
|
| Indiana |
$16.31/hr
|
$33,930
|
| Arkansas |
$16.23/hr
|
$33,760
|
| Massachusetts |
$16.2/hr
|
$33,700
|
| Guam |
$16.14/hr
|
$33,570
|
| Maryland |
$16.06/hr
|
$33,410
|
| New Jersey |
$15.84/hr
|
$32,950
|
| South Dakota |
$15.7/hr
|
$32,660
|
| New York |
$15.14/hr
|
$31,500
|
| Iowa |
$14.96/hr
|
$31,110
|
| West Virginia |
$14.54/hr
|
$30,240
|
Category: Biological science teachers, postsecondary
| Total # Employed in the US |
54,810 |
| Average Yearly Salary |
$87,220 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $41,060 |
$53,190 |
$73,980 |
$105,080 |
$155,020 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.2% |
0.7% |
2.7% |
2.3% |
15.3% |
34.6% |
44.2% |
|
Biological science teachers, postsecondary — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
| Alabama |
-
|
$109,990
|
| Arkansas |
-
|
$75,460
|
| California |
-
|
$55,170
|
| Colorado |
-
|
$90,560
|
| Connecticut |
-
|
$72,400
|
| Delaware |
-
|
$86,390
|
| Florida |
-
|
$80,470
|
| Hawaii |
-
|
$68,720
|
| Idaho |
-
|
$67,980
|
| Indiana |
-
|
$95,520
|
| Kansas |
-
|
$68,610
|
| Kentucky |
-
|
$72,250
|
| Louisiana |
-
|
$75,150
|
| Maine |
-
|
$73,950
|
| Maryland |
-
|
$70,700
|
| Massachusetts |
-
|
$52,630
|
| Michigan |
-
|
$78,770
|
| Mississippi |
-
|
$84,610
|
| Missouri |
-
|
$106,780
|
| Montana |
-
|
$78,820
|
| Nebraska |
-
|
$66,380
|
| Nevada |
-
|
$61,660
|
| New Hampshire |
-
|
$70,550
|
| New Jersey |
-
|
$53,230
|
| New Mexico |
-
|
$69,850
|
| North Carolina |
-
|
$87,330
|
| North Dakota |
-
|
$81,190
|
| Ohio |
-
|
$55,940
|
| Oklahoma |
-
|
$90,800
|
| Oregon |
-
|
$69,910
|
| Pennsylvania |
-
|
$48,250
|
| South Carolina |
-
|
$81,650
|
| Tennessee |
-
|
$89,980
|
| Utah |
-
|
$89,120
|
| Virginia |
-
|
$73,700
|
| Washington |
-
|
$62,280
|
| West Virginia |
-
|
$81,680
|
| Wisconsin |
-
|
$74,970
|
| Wyoming |
-
|
$115,170
|
| Guam |
-
|
$69,580
|
| Puerto Rico |
-
|
$70,920
|