Botany & Plant Biologyat North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Graduates earn $33,009/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Botany & Plant Biology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $443K; scenarios range from $425K to $437K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at NC State
Your pursuit of Botany/Plant Biology from NC State positions you within a unique academic niche, benefiting significantly from the university's strong ties to agriculture and its location in the Research Triangle Park. This region is a bustling hub for ag-tech, biotech, and environmental science firms, alongside prominent government research facilities. These local connections provide unparalleled internship and post-graduate opportunities, often leading to roles in specialized research, environmental consulting, or plant science management, shaping your career trajectory positively compared to similar programs.
However, the field faces significant AI integration, particularly in data analysis, phenotyping, and precision agriculture. To thrive, you’ll need to cultivate interdisciplinary skills – perhaps blending your botanical expertise with data science, bioinformatics, or project management. Focus on securing practical experience through internships with local industry players or government labs, as this direct exposure to real-world applications and evolving technologies will be your strongest asset in navigating a changing landscape.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to NC State's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Botany & Plant Biology
How NC State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at NC State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at NC State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Botany & Plant Biology at NC State
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Botany & Plant Biology at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
A score of 30/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Botany & Plant Biology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Botany & Plant Biology careers?
With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $425,369 in decade earnings vs $437,103 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.