by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Plant Genetics covers Plant Genetics. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Genetics Of Multicellular Plants And Fungi As Related To Botanical Research As Well As To Applications In Comparative Genetics, Ecology And Evolutionary Studies, Clinical Studies, And Industrial Research. Includes Instruction In Molecular Genetics, Gene Expression, Gene Regulation, Genomics, Epigenetic Phenomena, Dna Recombination And Repair, Genetic Interactions At The Microbial And Higher Levels, And Molecular Evolution. Read on to learn the important information every plant genetics major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering plant genetics programs.
Nationwide, plant genetics is a widely-pursued major, with 32 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Plant Genetics Schools ranking analyzes these 3 schools to determine the best overall colleges for plant genetics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of plant genetics programs later in this article.
Programs in Plant Genetics build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations plant genetics graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a plant genetics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a plant genetics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several plant genetics 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 10 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13 |
People currently working in careers related to plant genetics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 20.0% |
| Master’s degree | 17.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.9% |
| Some college courses | 3.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in plant genetics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in plant genetics can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to plant genetics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to plant genetics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | 23,620 | 9.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of plant genetics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,852 |
| 4 years | $57,533 |
| 5 years | $73,410 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for plant genetics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers plant genetics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
| Geneticists | $48,526 |
With 3 different plant genetics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased plant genetics school rankings to help you.
Those considering plant genetics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Genetics, General | 730 |
| Human/Medical Genetics | 424 |
| Molecular Genetics | 278 |
| Genome Sciences/Genomics | 199 |
| Animal Genetics | 59 |
| Genetics, Other | 11 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
