by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Plant Molecular Biology covers Plant Molecular Biology. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, And Biophysics To The Study Of Biomolecular Structures, Functions, And Processes Specific To Plants And Plant Substances. Includes Instruction In The Biochemistry Of Plant Cells, Nuclear-Cytoplasmic Interactions, Molecular Cytostructures, Photosynthesis, Plant Molecular Genetics, And The Molecular Biology Of Plant Diseases. Continue reading for the essential details every plant molecular biology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering plant molecular biology programs.
In the U.S., plant molecular biology is a popular field of study, with 12 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Plant Molecular Biology Schools ranking analyzes these 3 schools to determine the best overall colleges for plant molecular biology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of plant molecular biology programs later in this article.
Programs in Plant Molecular Biology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations plant molecular biology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a plant molecular biology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a plant molecular biology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several plant molecular biology 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 10 |
People currently working in careers related to plant molecular biology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 29.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 24.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 20.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 16.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.4% |
| First professional degree | 1.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in plant molecular biology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in plant molecular biology prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to plant molecular biology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to plant molecular biology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 172,528 | 3.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | 23,620 | 9.2% |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | 11,006 | 5.4% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of plant molecular biology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,663 |
| 4 years | $39,154 |
| 5 years | $38,098 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for plant molecular biology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers plant molecular biology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $59,587 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
| Geneticists | $48,526 |
With 3 different plant molecular biology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased plant molecular biology school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in plant molecular biology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Botany/Plant Biology | 538 |
| Plant Pathology/Phytopathology | 151 |
| Botany/Plant Biology, Other | 47 |
| Plant Physiology | 15 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
