by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2 U.S. colleges awarded 7 degrees and certificates in Plant Physiology. Doctorates are the most popular award, at 86% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $32,082 one year after completing, rising to $52,330 after four years.
A degree in Plant Physiology involves the study of Plant Physiology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Plant Internal Dynamics And Systems, Plant-Environment Interaction, And Plant Life Cycles And Processes. Includes Instruction In Cell And Molecular Biology; Plant Nutrition; Plant Respiration; Plant Growth, Behavior, And Reproduction; Photosynthesis; Plant Systemics; And Ecology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, plant physiology is a popular field of study, with 7 degrees awarded annually. 2 colleges award plant physiology degrees, an average of 4 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 4.
By level, the 7 awards include 1 master’s degrees and 6 doctorates.
Women earned 43% of plant physiology degrees and certificates in the latest year (3 of 7), and international students earned 4.
The most common plant physiology credential is the doctorate: 6 of the 7 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to plant physiology call most for Reading Comprehension, Writing and Speaking, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a plant physiology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to plant physiology, at 32.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.2% |
| Master’s degree | 18.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 18.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.2% |
| Some college courses | 2.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Plant Physiology, with an average median salary of $89,822; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical Research Coordinators, at 10.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trials Manager, Research Coordinator and Scientist.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to plant physiology, at 542,888.
| 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% |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 172,528 | 3.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Plant Physiology 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 physiology is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| 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 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $59,587 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
Plant Physiology has 4 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 820 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 Molecular Biology | 13 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.