Botany Degree in Pittsburgh, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Botany degree analysis for Pittsburgh, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$60K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$86K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.3 yrs
in Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
115
index (100 = avg)
Botany in Pittsburgh, PA Overview
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (pop. 302,971) has 12 colleges offering Botany programs. The local cost of living index of 115 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,285/month. Botany enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Plant Taxonomy and Ecology. The adjusted starting salary in Pittsburgh is approximately $59,800.
Category
Science
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$19,718/yr
Private Tuition
$61,344/yr
Room & Board
$15,793/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,441/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
63%
Botany Salary in Pittsburgh (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pittsburgh's cost of living index of 115 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Botany salary: $52,000 starting, $75,000 mid-career, $100,000 senior level.Pittsburgh adjustment factor: 1.15x based on the local cost of living index.
Botany ROI Calculator for Pittsburgh
Estimate your return on investment for a Botany degree using local Pittsburgh tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $19,718 | Private avg: $61,344
Pittsburgh avg aid: $13,441/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$142,044
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,550
vs HS diploma in Pittsburgh
ROI Payback Period
7.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pittsburgh
$30,456
Lifetime earnings premium ($172,500) minus total education cost ($142,044)
Student Loan Payoff for Botany in Pittsburgh
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pittsburgh for Botany
University of Pittsburgh
public
$19,718/yr
$78,872 total
Carnegie Mellon University
private
$61,344/yr
$245,376 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Allegheny County
$5,070/yr
Top Employers for Botany in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Botany graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pittsburgh Hiring Sectors for Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Botany Job Titles
Botany in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Philadelphia, PA
$78K starting · COL 150
42 colleges
Allentown, PA
$59K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$61K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$62K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$49K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$62K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$65K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$48K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Science Majors in Pittsburgh
Botany Degree in Pittsburgh — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Botany ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Pittsburgh.