If you’re passionate about plants and their role in our world, then becoming a botanist could be a rewarding job for you.
The role is nuanced and critical for many fields of work, and can result in a lifelong career of learning and discovery. If you want to discover how to become a botanist, then read through this guide for everything you need to know about the role.
You’ll learn what the botanist professions entails, the different types of botanists, their work environment and salary, and some key steps and preparation needed to get started in this extremely exciting career.
What is a botanist?
Botanists study plants, including their classifications, biology and structure, and how they interact with the wider environment. The level of understanding that botanists have about plant life is extensive, and they use this knowledge, including of plant genetics and physiology, to support various industries in how they work with plants.
What are the different types of botanists?
Botanists can specialize in various fields and specialisms, each one being very different from the next. Here are six of the most distinctive types of botanist jobs out there:
- Agronomists study plants and how they contribute to agricultural practices, such as how plants are used and produced for food and fuel.
- Ethnobotanists study the relationships between plants and people, such as how plants are used in food, medicine and cultural rituals.
- Horticulturists cultivate and manage gardens and botanical landscapes. They design and maintain gardens, and understand what plants are best suited to a particular locale.
- Paleobotanists study the history of fossilized plants. They use fossils to understand plant ecosystems from various geological eras and how this contributes to Earth’s history.
- Palynologists focus on pollen and spores, both living and fossilized, to enhance the understanding of plant reproduction and climate investigation.
- Plant taxonomists identify new species of plants, as well as classify and name them. They maintain plant databases and support conservation efforts.
What does a botanist do?
While the botanist’s role might vary depending on the type and specialization, there are some fundamental responsibilities that shape the job. Here are the six main responsibilities of a botanist:
- Classification and identification: Cataloging plant species and keeping records.
- Collaborating with fellow scientists: Working with other scientific arms to generate complex research projects.
- Conservation: Restoring plant habitats and making conservation recommendations.
- Education and training: Informing the public, students and other organizations about botanical science.
- Environmental analysis: Understanding how to ensure plants thrive in their environments, taking into account climate change.
- Research: Undertaking field and laboratory-based research, and creating reports.
What is their work environment like?
Botanists have a varied work environment and might complete various duties in an office, laboratory or in the field. In the latter, they might be exposed to challenging conditions such as temperature extremes, and extensive travel.
How long a botanist’s day is will largely depend on the needs of the projects they are working on, but hours and shifts might be extended during times of fieldwork or impending deadlines.
Botanists will also work in a mixture of organizational environments. They might need to undertake many tasks alone, but will also be expected to extensively collaborate with other people, both inside and outside of their profession.
What are the occupational hazards of botanists?
The fieldwork aspect of botany might present several unusual risks, including exposure to the elements, and also risks from natural hazards such as poisonous plants and dangerous terrain, as well as remote working.
The role also requires working with many different chemicals and using laboratory equipment, which comes with its own inherent danger. Also, botanists might be exposed to allergic reactions that come with working with plants.
As with any research-based role, botanists might need to work to tight deadlines and time pressures, meaning there’s also a risk of stress and burnout. Finally, working in offices and laboratories comes with ergonomic risks that many office workers might encounter.
How much do botanists earn?
Like other roles in science, botany is a highly specialized field that requires a lot of skill and qualifications. As such, it pays higher-than-average salaries, and experienced or certified botanists can expect to earn very good wages.
The disparity in wages can be extreme, with entry-level roles being paid significantly lower than more senior roles. What you earn might also depend on the organizational sector you are employed in. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top-paying industry for botanists is grain and oilseed milling, where the average annual salary is $116,300.
The BLS reports that the mean annual wage for botanists is $77,080 ($37.06 per hour). Wages at the 10th percentile are $43,790 ($21.05 per hour), $54,030 ($25.97 per hour) at the 25th percentile, $68,240 ($32.81 per hour) at the median, $93,500 ($44.95 per hour) at the 75th percentile, and $119,410 ($57.41 per hour) at the 90th percentile.
The pay for botanists can also vary depending on the location you are employed in. The top-paying state for botanists is the District of Columbia, with an average salary of $101,600, followed by Connecticut ($97,780), Missouri ($92,580), Florida ($92,320) and Mississippi ($92,080).
In a snapshot:
What is their job outlook?
Growing awareness of climate and environmental change means that the labor market outlook for botanists is strong. That said, economic uncertainty can lead to budget cuts, causing research constraints that can affect many scientific roles.
The BLS reported that there were 17,200 botanists in 2022, of which only 200 were self-employed. By 2032, this is forecast to rise to 18,100 botanists, an increase of 900, or 4.7%, faster than the national average job growth in the US.
The number of self-employed botanists, meanwhile, is forecast to remain flat, at 200, and the number of wage and salary botanists will rise to around 17,900, an increase from 2022 to 2032 of 4.8%.
What is the typical career path of a botanist?
Botanists can look forward to a progressive and rewarding career path. While roles can be competitive, there is plenty of scope to grow within the profession. Entry botanist roles can include fieldwork assistant, administrative or research assistant roles. You might consider voluntary or work experience roles in these areas, as well, to build your network.
After gaining your qualifications, you can aim towards mid-level roles such as junior research scientist, botanical investigator or even assistant professor roles in universities or colleges. From these roles, you can get promoted to full scientist or professor positions, with more responsibility and greater autonomy.
Senior botanist roles can be much broader, and have national or even international remits. These can include corporate botanist roles such as senior consultancy positions in pharmaceutical or agricultural firms. You can also become a governmental policy advisor or a director of research in universities or botanical institutions.
What are the entry requirements?
Getting ready for a career as a botanist requires considerable preparation and an understanding of the work needed to break into this role. In this section, we’ll cover the entry requirements for being a botanist in terms of education, key skills, licenses and certifications, and work experience.
Education
Botanists need to invest considerable time and expense in their education. This begins with prioritizing the sciences in high school, followed by a bachelor’s degree in biology or plant science. To really make a career as a botanist, though, you’ll need a master’s degree or a PhD in a related field.
Skills and qualities
Botanical knowledge and exceptional research skills are essential to becoming a botanist. You’ll also need great communication skills, competence in fieldwork, patience, and an awareness and appreciation for conservation. A passion for plants is also important!
Licenses and certifications
Botanists can work towards several certifications, such as Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner, or a suite of four certifications accredited by the Ecological Society of America. Professional bodies like the Botanical Society of America can support the certification process.
Work experience
Botanists can get into the profession in a variety of ways, but the most common starting points are roles such as botanical research assistant, plant conservation volunteer, gardener or horticulturist, or working in a botanical garden. Certification and qualifications will open further doors.
What are the pros and cons of working as a botanist?
Like any role, being a botanist has its upsides and its downsides. Here are the pros and cons of this role:
Pros
- Contributing to the environment: Botanists directly contribute to conservation efforts, biodiversity work and sustainability.
- Diverse career choices: Botanists work across various areas, such as agriculture, research, consulting, and more.
- Fieldwork opportunities: Botanists are often engaged in the field, meaning that no two days are the same and work can be especially exciting.
- Putting your passion to work: If you love plants and the natural world, then becoming a botanist means that you’re working with what you love every day.
- Scientific contributions: Being a botanist means that you can make lasting, important contributions to the world we live in.
Cons
- Administrative obligations: In addition to all the passion-driven fun, there is plenty of administration involved in botany, such as writing reports.
- Educational requirements: Botanists need to have a master’s degree and maybe even a PhD, which can be time-consuming and costly to obtain.
- Isolation: Fieldwork and research might require time away from others and plenty of travel.
- Job stability: Many botanist roles require research funding. If this isn’t in place, jobs can be cut.
- Narrow job market: Botanist roles are few and far between, which creates fierce competition for opportunities.
Do you have what it takes?
Becoming a botanist takes a huge amount of dedication and preparation, as well as extensive educational attainment. The best botanists are ones that have a natural passion for plants, and who are curious about learning more about them. They’ll be analytical individuals that have a desire for lifelong learning and the ability to handle the mundane side of scientific work.
If you’re unsure what your career interests, career goals, and skills and abilities can lead to in terms of a job or career path, then consider taking CareerHunter’s career test. This is a series of assessments created by psychologists that can demystify the job search process and align who you are to a series of best-fit career paths.
5 steps to become a botanist
If you have read this far and consider botany to be the perfect role for you, then read on to discover five crucial steps that you need to take to get firmly rooted in this amazing career.
Step 1: Develop your scientific knowledge
Your career as a botanist will start at school, where focusing on subjects like the sciences and mathematics will stand you in good stead to go further. Consider also participating in extracurricular activities relating to plants and biology, such as plant clubs or natural history societies.
You’ll also want to take a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as plant science or biology. Here, you can begin exploring botanical specialisms by taking elective modules like ecology, genetics or soil science. Whatever you do, get stuck into your undergraduate degree and make every moment count.
Use your time at university to decide if diving this much into the world of botany is for you. You might decide that segueing into a similar profession such as biology might be the better path. Ultimately, taking the time to think about this at university means that you’ll still easily be able to realign your career if that’s what you think might be best.
Step 2: Begin your practical work experience
As soon as you can, ideally while you’re studying, look for practical experience in botany. This might start with entry-level, hands-on or administrative roles that might not have much to do with what you’re learning at school, but they will, crucially, provide you with a foot in the door and allow you to begin building your network.
Good entry roles might include administrative work in botanical laboratories, helping out in botanical gardens, volunteering with conservation organizations or even becoming a casual gardener. Consider also looking at internships and apprenticeships with a botanical slant. These might be competitive, so ensure you work on your résumé and that all relevant education and experience support your application.
As you build your work experience, try to get ever more involved in botanical responsibilities and begin thinking about any specialisms in the profession that pique your interest. Build your network and consider ways to rejoin organizations that you love once you’re qualified or have enough experience.
Step 3: Build your network
Because botany is a competitive field, with the best work opportunities being relatively scarce, you need to do all you can to build your network.
Begin by leveraging your organizational connections as we have already discussed, but there’s more you can do as well. Strongly consider joining professional organizations like the BSA or the American Society of Plant Biologists, two great organizations that offer learning opportunities and networking events that bring like-minded botanists together.
Seek out ways to attend workshops and conferences so you can learn about botanical trends and meet fellow botanists.
Step 4: Take on further education
Consider taking further education such as a master’s degree or PhD in a specialized area of botany. This will support you in applying for certification later down the line and will firm up any specialist areas of the profession that you’re interested in.
Further education is especially important if you want to move into botanical academia or research roles. These come with a lot of extra responsibility and will open many more doors for you and your career.
As part of further education, you’ll need to complete research projects and doctorate assignments, and work closely with senior botanical academics to make meaningful and important contributions to your profession. These opportunities can supercharge your career as a botanist and lead to lots of incredible opportunities in the future.
Step 5: Become certified
Becoming a certified botanist is a great way to take your career to the next level. Certified botanists will be more marketable to recruiters, can earn a higher wage and might even have larger networks or the chance to take on exciting specialisms.
There are a few different certification routes in botany. The Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner certification is achievable after five years of work experience and adherence to the Society of Ecological Restoration’s code of ethics. The ESA offers four different levels of certifications to new or experienced botanists, so it’s a more flexible option.
Finally, the California Consulting Botanist Certification is awarded by the California Native Plant Society, and is given in recognition of a deep understanding of California’s flora and fauna. All these certifications require studying for exams and paying various membership fees.
Key takeaways
Becoming a botanist is hard work, but the role is exciting and can provide many career opportunities. Here are some key points to consider when thinking about becoming a botanist:
- A career as a botanist can take many different forms, and there are various types of career paths.
- Salary scales for botanists can range from very low to very high, depending on your location, level of experience, the industry you work in and your degree of education.
- A career as a botanist presents a varied work environment but can be insecure, due to funding constraints on research projects.
- Becoming a botanist is challenging, as it requires a large amount of educational attainment and competition for roles.
- There are plenty of networking, membership and certification opportunities for botanists to support career development.
With careful preparation and a passion for plants, science and investigation, you can enjoy a rewarding career as a botanist, supporting plant life and the world around you. Good luck!
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