Becoming a botanist takes a combination of education, an interest in plants and a passion for science and nature, the proper skill set, and knowing where to look for a job.
Below we've outlined what you'll need to succeed in this field. We've also included helpful information for a botanist career, such as job description, job duties, salary expectations, a list of possible employers and much more!
Educational Requirements
To become a botanist, you need to begin by earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany or a closely related field such as Biology or Environmental Science. While you are earning your undergraduate degree, you should be getting a good idea of where your interests and ambitions lie.
If you want to works as a consultant in the environmental, horticulture and agriculture sectors, you will need a master’s degree in botany.
To work in research and university teaching positions a PhD in Botany is needed. Many botanists also choose to continue their training as post-doctoral fellows after receiving their Ph.Ds.
Tip for Success: Most colleges and universities in Canada and the United States offer either a botany or biology program, and many of them allow you to customize your course load to some extent, based on your career goals and interests.
General Job Description
Botanists are responsible for studying the properties and life processes of plants. They study how plants grow, reproduce, and manufacture food. Botanists may be employed by government agencies, private research organizations, colleges or universities, botanical gardens or private industry.
Typical Job Duties
• May specialize in the study of one type or group of plants
• Examine aspects shared by different plant species Identify and classify plants
• Study the life process of plants
• Study the effects of temperature, humidity, light, and other environmental conditions on plant life processes
• May search for and develop plants that can be sold as food, drugs, fibers, or other useful goods
• Use specialized equipment
• Confer with other members of research team
• Supervise the work of biological technicians
• Determine objectives and methods of research
• Record detailed notes of work processes
• Prepare and publish reports on findings of research
Gaining Career Experience as a Student
Landing an internship opportunity, working with professors and other faculty on research projects, or getting a summer job in botany career fields are all great ways to add beef to your resume and gain career experience. Speak to your school's career services office, as well as your Botany professors and other faculty, in order to learn about any available positions.
How to Get a Job as a Botanist
Now that you've acquired an education, a career focus, skills in botany and research experience, you're ready to become a botanist! The last thing you have to do is nail the interview...once you earn one.
Your last step to becoming a botanist is to make a list of possible employers and suitable positions, and start handing out resumes. Do your research and figure out which companies are hiring botanists and related positions; these employers will be in a variety of sectors.
Who Employs Botanists?
There are many employers, representing many different sectors of industry that are interested in the skills and knowledge of botanists. Below is an overview of the types of employers that employ them:
• Agricultural research agencies/firms
• Biological photography companies
• Biological supply companies
• Biotechnology firms
• Botanical gardens and arboretums
• Colleges, universities, and plant research centers
• Ecological consulting companies
• Environmental and biotechnical regulatory agencies
• Environmental impact research and assessment organizations
• Federal biological/botanical agencies
• Federal department of agriculture
• Fruit Growers
• Greenhouses
• Landscape management and design companies
• Marine/freshwater biological organizations
• Museums and conservatories
• National, state/provincial parks
• Petrochemical, chemical, and lumber and paper companies
• Pharmaceutical firms
• Schools (teacher)
• Science journals
Areas of Employment in This Field
Botanists apply their specialized knowledge in various fields, including:
• Agriculture
• Biology
• Ecology
• Education
• Forensics
• Forestry
• Land Reclamation
• Medicine
• Pharmaceuticals
• Plant Breeding
• Plant Biotechnology
Work Environment
Some botanists conduct their work and research activities indoors in offices, classrooms and laboratories. These botanists tend to work regular working hours that may be extended to weekends and evenings.
Many botanists conduct their work and research activities primarily outdoors or in greenhouses. These botanists typically perform such tasks such as collecting and identifying terrestrial and aquatic plants, taking samples, as well as surveying and documenting plant communities. Their may work irregular or extended hours, and are often required to travel.
Average Salary Level
United States: The U.S Labor and Statistics reports that the median salary for Soil and Plant Scientists, is $70,630 USD per year. (May, 2018 figures).
Canada: According to the 2018 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans working the in Ecologists occupational group (which is similar in nature to 'Botanist') earn an average salary of $84,998 CAD per year. Unfortunately, no similar statistics were available from reliable sources for other Canadian provinces or territories at the time of writing (June 21, 2019).
Please note: Salary levels can vary greatly for botanists, depending on their level of education, who their employer is, their amount of experience, and many other factors.
Current Job Opportunities
Our job board below has botanist postings in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, when available:
Career Advancement Possibilities
Botanists typically receive greater responsibility and independence in their work as they become more experienced. Furthering their education can also lead to greater responsibility in their career. Botanists with a Ph.D. are usually responsible to directing research projects and overseeing the employees and students on the research team.
Similar Occupational Profiles in Our Database
Listed below are jobs that are similar in nature to botanist, as they involve many of the same skills, competencies and responsibilities.
Professional Associations
Professional associations for botanists are collections of practitioners, organizations and agencies committed to the support, development and enhancement of botany and related careers. The field of botany has a number of professional associations that support ethics in related professions, report current research findings within the field, and foster partnerships among its members.
Below are some of the numerous benefits to becoming a member of a professional association.
• Demonstrate professional commitments as a botanist or aspiring botanist
• Maintain current awareness of industry developments and trends
• May be able to take professional Botany courses
• May be able to participate in industry research projects and/or policy decisions
• Networking opportunities: Meet potential employers, partners and mentors
• Learn about employment and professional experience opportunities
• May be entitled to discounts from sponsors
• Nominate yourself or others for industry awards
• Set yourself apart from other qualified applicants
Those interested in becoming a botanist should visit these websites for more information:
Canada
• Canadian Association for Conservation
• Canadian Botanical Association
• Canadian Horticulture Council
• Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance
• Ontario Institute of Agrologists
United States
• American Horticultural Society
• American Society for Horticultural Science
• Botanical Society of America
• Natural Resources Defense Council
References
Please use the references below to find more information on the various aspects of a career in this field:
Occupations in Alberta: “Biologist.” (March 31, 2019). ALIS website - Alberta Learning Information Service. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
Occupational Employment Statistics: “Soil and Plant Scientists.” (September 4, 2019). Occupational Employment & Wages - United States Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
Explore Careers: “Botanist.” (n.d.). National Careers Service website. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
Articles: “What is Botany?” (n.d.). Botanical Society of America website. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
Scholarships for Becoming a Botanist
Scholarships found on our Biology Scholarships and Botany Scholarships pages are relevant for becoming a botanist.
Success Tip: Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!
Relevant University Majors
Studying one of the university majors listed below is an excellent starting point for getting started into this line of work. Click on the links to find out what else you can do with these majors!
