As of May 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Plant Biologist in the US is $51,152, equivalent to $25 per hour, $984 weekly, or $4,263 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Plant Biologist in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Plant Biologist in the US vary widely, spanning from $40,317 to $59,966. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($45,481) and 75th percentile ($55,766), while top earners (90th percentile) make $59,966 per year. This $10,285 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Analysis or Microbiology, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Plant Biologist often earn 10.7% above national averages due to demand from Fortune 50 companies and industry startups. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Plant Biologist Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Plant Biologist Salary $40,317 US May 01, 2026
25th Percentile Plant Biologist Salary $45,481 US May 01, 2026
50th Percentile Plant Biologist Salary $51,152 US May 01, 2026
75th Percentile Plant Biologist Salary $55,766 US May 01, 2026
90th Percentile Plant Biologist Salary $59,966 US May 01, 2026
25% $45,481 10% $40,317 90% $59,966 75% $55,766 $51,152 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is a Plant Biologist ?

Botany, also called plant science(s), plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek word βοτάνη (botanē) meaning "pasture", "grass", or "fodder"; βοτάνη is in turn derived from βόσκειν (boskein), "to feed" or "to graze". Traditionally, botany has also included the study of fungi and algae by mycologists and phycologists respectively, with the study of these three groups of organisms remaining within the sphere of interest o...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/18/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Job Openings for Plant Biologist

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Plant Biologist

    0 - 2 years experience
    JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent

  2. Up a level:

    Biologist II

    2 - 4 years experience
    JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Plant Biologist, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
45481
55766
51152

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
65373
79849
73153
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Plant Biologist in the United States. The base salary for Plant Biologist ranges from $45,481 to $55,766 with the average base salary of $51,152. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $65,373 to $79,849 with the average total cash compensation of $73,153.
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45481
55766

 

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