by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2 U.S. colleges awarded 13 degrees and certificates in Plant Molecular Biology. Doctorates are the most popular award, at 85% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $32,082 one year after completing, rising to $52,330 after four years.
A 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.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., plant molecular biology is a popular field of study, with 13 degrees awarded annually. 2 colleges award plant molecular biology degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 7.
By level, the 13 awards include 2 master’s degrees and 11 doctorates.
Women earned 62% of plant molecular biology degrees and certificates in the latest year (8 of 13). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (4) and Hispanic or Latino (2), and international students earned 3.
The most common plant molecular biology credential is the doctorate: 11 of the 13 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to plant molecular biology call most for Science, Reading Comprehension and Writing, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Written Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a plant molecular biology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 11 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to plant molecular biology, at 29.5%.
| 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% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Plant Molecular Biology, with an average median salary of $72,382; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Scientists, All Other, at 9.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Research Scientist, Scientist, Botanist and Biologist.
The occupation related to plant molecular biology with the most projected jobs is Geneticists, at 183,832.
| 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% |
Plant Molecular Biology graduates earn a median $32,082 one year after completing their program, $52,330 after four years and $38,098 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,082 |
| 4 years | $52,330 |
| 5 years | $38,098 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to plant molecular biology is Molecular and Cellular Biologists, with a median salary of $100,077.
| 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 |
Plant Molecular Biology has 4 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 814 degrees a year; the largest are Botany/Plant Biology (566), Plant Pathology/Phytopathology (177) and Botany/Plant Biology, Other (64). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Botany/Plant Biology | 566 |
| Plant Pathology/Phytopathology | 177 |
| Botany/Plant Biology, Other | 64 |
| Plant Physiology | 7 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.