by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Plant Protection & Integrated Pest Management involves the study of Plant Protection And Integrated Pest Management. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Scientific Principles To The Control Of Animal, Insect And Weed Infestation Of Domesticated Plant Populations And Other Settings, Including Agricultural Crops; The Prevention/reduction Of Attendant Economic Loss; And The Control Of Environmental Pollution And Degradation Related To Pest Infestation And Pest Control Measures. Includes Instruction In Entomology, Applicable Animal Sciences, Plant Pathology And Physiology, Weed Science, Crop Science, And Environmental Toxicology. Examples: [Pest Management], [Extermination]. Read on to learn the important information every plant protection & integrated pest management major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering plant protection & integrated pest management programs.
Nationwide, plant protection & integrated pest management draws strong interest, with 166 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Plant Protection & Integrated Pest Management Schools ranking analyzes these 17 schools to determine the best overall colleges for plant protection & integrated pest management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of plant protection & integrated pest management programs later in this article.
Coursework for Plant Protection & Integrated Pest Management build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations plant protection & integrated pest management graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a plant protection & integrated pest management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a plant protection & integrated pest management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several plant protection & integrated pest management degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 10 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 102 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 40 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 10 |
People currently working in careers related to plant protection & integrated pest management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 56.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 13.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in plant protection & integrated pest management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in plant protection & integrated pest management opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to plant protection & integrated pest management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to plant protection & integrated pest management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 172,528 | 3.7% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of plant protection & integrated pest management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $45,321 |
| 4 years | $49,331 |
| 5 years | $56,395 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for plant protection & integrated pest management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers plant protection & integrated pest management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $59,587 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
With 17 different plant protection & integrated pest management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased plant protection & integrated pest management school rankings to help you.
Those considering plant protection & integrated pest management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agronomy and Crop Science | 1,201 |
| Horticultural Science | 903 |
| Plant Sciences, General | 692 |
| Range Science and Management | 153 |
| Plant Sciences, Other | 107 |
| Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding | 39 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
