3. Plant Geneticist

Also termed “plant breeder,” this profession specializes in crop cultivation. Plant geneticists improve the value of edible plants regarding nutrition, flavor, appearance, yield, and hardiness. Working in laboratories, they upgrade existing crops and birth new plant varieties.

Responsibilities include implementing research goals, plant cross-pollination, gene isolation, breeding, recordkeeping, and research publication. The tasks of a plant geneticist require being organized, analytical, detail-minded, and articulate. Even at the entry level, this is one of the most well-paid careers in botany. Plant breeders are hired by seed companies, food producers, universities, research firms, and government departments.