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Botany Degree in Pomona, CA — Salary & ROI 2026

Botany degree analysis for Pomona, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$68K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$98K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

4.2 yrs

in Pomona

Cost of Living

131

index (100 = avg)

Botany in Pomona, CA Overview

Pomona, California (pop. 151,348) has 11 colleges offering Botany programs. The local cost of living index of 131 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,430/month. Botany enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Plant Taxonomy and Ecology. The adjusted starting salary in Pomona is approximately $68,120.

Category

Science

Local Colleges

11

Public Tuition

$7,387/yr

Private Tuition

$40,824/yr

Room & Board

$16,037/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$10,843/yr

Unemployment

5.9%

Graduation Rate

66%

Botany Salary in Pomona (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Pomona's cost of living index of 131 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$68,120(+$16,120 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$98,250(+$23,250 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$131,000(+$31,000 vs national)

Note: National average Botany salary: $52,000 starting, $75,000 mid-career, $100,000 senior level.Pomona adjustment factor: 1.31x based on the local cost of living index.

Botany ROI Calculator for Pomona

Estimate your return on investment for a Botany degree using local Pomona tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $7,387 | Private avg: $40,824

Pomona avg aid: $10,843/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$93,696

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$22,270

vs HS diploma in Pomona

ROI Payback Period

4.2 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Pomona

$102,804

Lifetime earnings premium ($196,500) minus total education cost ($93,696)

Student Loan Payoff for Botany in Pomona

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$93,696
Monthly Payment$1,064
Total Interest$33,972
% of Monthly Income19%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$93,696
Monthly Payment$1,833
Total Interest$16,300
Interest Savings$17,672

Colleges in Pomona for Botany

Cal Poly Pomona

public

$7,387/yr

$29,548 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Mt. San Antonio College

$1,540/yr

Top Employers for Botany in Pomona

Pomona offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Botany graduates. National top employers in this field include:

USDANational ParksBotanical GardensBiotech

Key Pomona Hiring Sectors for Science

Tech companies

Research labs

Government agencies

Startups

Consulting firms

Common Botany Job Titles

BotanistPlant GeneticistConservation Biologist

Botany Degree in Pomona — 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 Pomona.

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