Salaries and Availability of Jobs


Today the range of job opportunities and potential earnings for plant biologists is wider than ever before. The American Institute for Biological Science 2003 salary survey “Compensation of Life Scientists in the United States of America”; indicates the 2003 median income (salary plus cash compensation, such as bonus, profit sharing, or both) for people with less than one year of experience was estimated at $33,000 and for those with 30 years or more $108,000. The median for all positions without supervisory responsibilities was $48,000 and for those supervising 10 or more professional and sub professional employees, the median income was $126,500.

A few of the position/salary examples are: Intermediate research technicians $33,000, Postdoctoral researchers (12 month appointment) $36,366, Secondary school teachers $44,200, Assistant professors (9 to 10 month appointment) $49,713, Intermediate researchers $50,250, Laboratory managers $53,000, Professors (9 to 10 month appointment) $85,000, Research unit supervisors $85,000, Laboratory directors $90,000, Government section heads $98,000, Research section heads $108,387, Professors (12 month appointment) $118,000, “Distinguished” researchers$126,000, College department heads $129,000, Research managers $139,000, Research vice presidents/directors $142,000.

The sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that comes from doing interesting and worthwhile work is one of the rewards of a career in plant science. In addition, many positions in botany provide other benefits such as individual freedom, varied work, pleasant surroundings, stimulating associates, and the opportunity to travel. Besides depending on experience and education, the geographical location of the employer also makes a difference. In general, salaries vary with the cost of living in a particular region.

Job availability is generally good. Employment opportunities vary over time depending partly on the status of state and national economies. Some fields are more competitive than others. Challenging positions are usually available for well-trained plant scientists.

View one member's perspective of a "career in botany" at: http://www.botany.org/profiles/david_spooner.php.

View current botanical/plant science employment opportunities at: http://www.botany.org/newsite/employment/.


Continue .....

 PLANT SCIENCE BULLETIN  Book Reviews RSS

» ANNOUNCEMENTS
» BOOKS NEEDING REVIEW
» POSITIONS AVAILABLE

  STUDENTS' CORNER

  
» Student Update from Jim and Rachel

Call for Proposals - Student Research Awards
Proposals Due March 15

» BSA Graduate Student Research Awards
» BSA Undergraduate Student Research Awards
» Genetics Section GSRA

Student Travel Awards
Applications/Proposals Due April 10

(moved out beyond abstract submissions)
» AFS & Pteridological Section STA
» Vernon I Cheadle STA
» Triarch (Conant) "Botanical Images" STA
» Developmental & Structural Section STA
» Ecological Section STA
» Genetics Section STA
» Mycological Section STA
» Phycological Section STA
» Phytochemical Section STA

» Why should you join the Society as a student?
» NEW MEMBERS - Connecting with the BSA

  SPECIAL NOTICES

Proposals Due March 15
» BSA Merit Award
» Charles Edwin Bessey Teaching Award
» Young Botanist Award

Proposals Due April 1
» Darbaker Prize in Phycology
» Pelton Award in Experimental Plant Morphology
» BSA Corresponding Members

  BOTANY 2010 - Providence, RI

» BOTANY 2010 WEB SITE
» ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS
» CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
» CONFERENCE ACCOMMODATION

  BOTANY BLOGS   

» Adventures of a Phytochemist
» Moss Plants and More
» The Phytophactor
» Uncommon Ground

  BOTANY IN THE NEWS   Botany in the News RSS

» Giant meat-eating plants prefer shrew poo
» Insect that fights Japanese knotweed to be released
» Cultivating New Talent: Recent concerns
     have created a huge need for interdisciplinary
     researchers focused on agriculture
» Biodiversity: Out of sight, out of mind

     Botanical Society of America - find us on facebook       Botanical Society of America - find us on facebook
                        Botanical Society of America - find us on Flickr

  NEWS from the PLANT COMMUNITY

» IBC 2011, XVIII International Botanical Congress
       MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA 23-30 JULY 2011
» We're back!!! CONTEST THREE - NOW OPEN
Chlorofilms - plant videos on YouTube

 FEATURED BSA RESOURCES

 BSA members' PLANT VIDEOS online
  Botany without Borders

» BOTANY - the students' perspective
» Careers in Botany
» Celebrating Women in the Plant Sciences

» Economic Botany - How We Value Plants....
» Crime Scene Botanicals - Forensic Botany
» Trees, YOU and CO2 - Your Carbon Imprint
Planting Science Project
Careers in Botany BSA Image Collection www.PlantingScience.org Classroom Plant Talking Points McIntosh Apple Development Project