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Botanist salary
Average botanist salary
$50,491
Average Botanist Salary
The average salary for a botanist is approximately $50,491 annually, or around $24 per hour. This figure varies by state and can be influenced by factors such as education and experience.
Regional Salary Differences
Botanists working in states like California and New York often enjoy higher salaries compared to those in less populated areas. For instance, states with a higher demand for ecological and environmental expertise typically offer salaries exceeding $60,000 annually.
Impact of Experience
Experience is another key factor affecting salary. Entry-level positions may start around $40,000, while seasoned botanists with advanced degrees can command salaries over $70,000. Additionally, specialized roles, such as conservation botanists or research scientists, may offer competitive compensation packages that reflect their expertise.
Job Opportunities
Job opportunities for botanists are diverse, spanning fields such as agriculture, environmental science, and education. As public interest in environmental sustainability grows, so does the demand for professionals in botany. Exploring different sectors can enhance career prospects and salary potential.
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Where can a Botanist earn more?
Botanist salary estimates from across the web
Average botanist salary by state
The average botanist salary in Alaska, Oregon, and Maryland are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average botanist salary states are Tennessee, Hawaii, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for botanists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $69,537 | $33.43 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $60,419 | $29.05 |
| 3 | Maine | $60,843 | $29.25 |
| 4 | Maryland | $63,939 | $30.74 |
| 5 | Ohio | $60,660 | $29.16 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $59,158 | $28.44 |
| 7 | Oregon | $65,517 | $31.50 |
| 8 | Missouri | $59,116 | $28.42 |
| 9 | Washington | $62,585 | $30.09 |
| 10 | Mississippi | $57,921 | $27.85 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $56,315 | $27.07 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $58,616 | $28.18 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $58,790 | $28.26 |
| 14 | Utah | $58,337 | $28.05 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $58,580 | $28.16 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $58,835 | $28.29 |
| 17 | Idaho | $55,507 | $26.69 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $55,530 | $26.70 |
| 19 | Montana | $56,172 | $27.01 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $57,822 | $27.80 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $54,103 | $26.01 |
| 22 | Vermont | $57,994 | $27.88 |
| 23 | New York | $58,684 | $28.21 |
| 24 | Virginia | $55,671 | $26.76 |
| 25 | Colorado | $55,685 | $26.77 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $58,482 | $28.12 |
| 27 | Indiana | $52,140 | $25.07 |
| 28 | Nevada | $51,181 | $24.61 |
| 29 | California | $54,569 | $26.24 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $51,669 | $24.84 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $52,923 | $25.44 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $47,782 | $22.97 |
| 33 | Delaware | $55,268 | $26.57 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $53,182 | $25.57 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $53,242 | $25.60 |
| 36 | Texas | $50,299 | $24.18 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $37,279 | $17.92 |
| 38 | Illinois | $48,548 | $23.34 |
| 39 | Arizona | $47,480 | $22.83 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $46,507 | $22.36 |
| 41 | Minnesota | $48,808 | $23.47 |
| 42 | Iowa | $47,088 | $22.64 |
| 43 | Michigan | $42,580 | $20.47 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $42,830 | $20.59 |
| 45 | Alabama | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| 46 | Kansas | $46,276 | $22.25 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $33,618 | $16.16 |
| 48 | Georgia | $36,925 | $17.75 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $37,431 | $18.00 |
| 50 | Florida | $32,353 | $15.55 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $37,090 | $17.83 |
Highest paying cities for botanists
The highest-paying cities for botanists are New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, and Fort Collins, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $58,752 | $28.25 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $58,503 | $28.13 |
| 3 | Fort Collins, CO | $55,668 | $26.76 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $54,024 | $25.97 |
| 5 | Kailua, HI | $37,383 | $17.97 |
Botanist salary details
A botanist's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $75,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a botanist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| 75th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| Average | $50,491 | $4,208 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
Highest paying botanist jobs
The highest paying types of botanists are forest service wildlife program leader, marine scientist, and wildlife division manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fish And Wildlife Biologist | $52,402 | $4,367 | $25.19 | 7,349 |
| Fisheries Biologist | $47,758 | $3,980 | $22.96 | 3,648 |
| Wildlife Biologist | $51,084 | $4,257 | $24.56 | 5,376 |
| Marine Biologist | $54,008 | $4,501 | $25.97 | 17,273 |
| Ecologist | $50,369 | $4,197 | $24.22 | 7,026 |
| Biologist | $65,158 | $5,430 | $31.33 | 5,741 |
Top companies hiring botanists now:
Which companies pay botanists the most?
Botanist salaries at Forest and Bureau of Land Management are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average botanist salary at companies like Universal Engineering Sciences and The Research Corporation of the University of Hawai'i are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forest Manufacturing Co | $65,634 | $31.55 |
| 2 | Bureau of Land Management | $60,907 | $29.28 |
| 3 | Universal Engineering Sciences | $60,328 | $29.00 |
| 4 | The Research Corporation of the University of Hawai'i | $58,117 | $27.94 |
| 5 | SWCA Environmental Consultants | $53,037 | $25.50 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Botanist salary trends
The average botanist salary has risen by $6,796 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average botanist earned $43,695 annually, but today, they earn $50,491 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for botanists over the last decade.
Compare botanist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average botanist salary over time
Compare botanist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Botanist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,500 | $24.27 | +4.6% |
| 2024 | $48,100 | $23.15 | -0.2% |
| 2023 | $48,300 | $23.20 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $47,400 | $22.79 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | $46,100 | $22.14 | +1.4% |
Recently added botanist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICF International, Inc. | Senior Botanist | San Francisco, CA | 06/26/2025 | $73,403 |
| Stantec Inc. | Junior Botanist | San Jose, CA | 06/24/2025 | $52,400 |
| ICF Jones and Stokes | Senior Botanist/Wetland Ecologist | Sacramento, CA | 06/13/2025 | $100,000 |
| Vitality Works | Botanist | Albuquerque, NM | 06/06/2025 | $55,000 |
| GHD | Botanist/Wetlands Specialist | Irvine, CA | 06/01/2025 | $94,760 |
| Legislative Branch | Botanist | Washington, DC | 05/24/2025 | $84,601 |
| Aecom | Mid-Level Botanist | Oakland, CA | 03/28/2025 | $70,000 |
| ICF | Senior Botanist | Sacramento, CA | 03/28/2025 | $73,403 |
| Sierra Pacific Industries | Forestry-Botanist | Camino, CA | 03/22/2025 | $69,000 |
| Job Listingsmendocino Forest Products Company, LLC | Botanist | Scotia, CA | 02/28/2025 | $74,000 |
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