Entomologist Salary

In layman's terms, entomology is the study of insects and there are over a million species of insects on this planet. The salary according to national statistics is around the USD 55,000 annually mark. Entomology comes under biology and the entomologist studies the insects under laboratory conditions as well as observes them in their natural habitat when on field work. Under the entomology umbrella there are different topics like biomechanics, agriculture, nutrition, forensic science, etc. The study of insects has been vital in developing robots as the insects movement have been duplicated by robotic engineers with great results. Entomologist also play a vital role when it comes to agriculture as some insects are responsible for pollination and some for destruction of crops. Forensic entomologist study a crime scene and try to determine a timeline for the event. Due to all these different fields of work the salary of an entomologist fluctuates according to the job profile.

Educational Qualifications

Salary of an entomologist depends largely on the educational qualification, candidates who have a Bachelor's degree are likely to get less salary than their counterparts with a Master's degree or doctorate. Students with a high school diploma or GED equivalent are eligible to enroll for entomology Bachelor's degree programs. Many schools also offer Master's programs and Ph. D. level courses in entomology which benefit students when they are looking for high wage jobs. Some schools even offer online programs in entomology but there aren't online programs for sub categories like forensic entomology. Students who have an innate liking for insects will excel in this profession. Some entomologist are also known to run their own successful pest control businesses after completing their course work.

Job Description

There are several specialization under entomology hence the job description and salary of an entomologist will vary as per the work profile. For a better understanding an entomologist working with disease control will study the role of insects in disease transmission. In the agriculture industry they will work on ways to restrict harmful insects from harming the crops and identify the insects that help pollination. Forensic entomologist study crime scene and will study insects like maggots and flies to determine the time of crime. They will be required to visit the scene of crime or will have to analyze samples under laboratory settings. The duties of an entomologist are widespread.

Salary Range

The salary is related to the field of specialization they choose for example, forensic salary can range between USD 29,000 to USD 49,000. According to some statistics the average salary of forensic entomologist per hour is around USD 25. Law enforcement forces are the top employers when it comes to forensic entomology. The medical entomologist salary can range between USD 60,000 to USD 65,000 and at the entry-level it can be as low as USD 25,000 annually. These people study the infections that insects carry and their effects in regards to human life.

If you consider the salary ranges for jobs like most professions, the salary also depends on the geographical location of the job. In states like New York, the average salary is USD 36,000 and in the state of California the median salary is USD 32,000 annually. An entomologist looking to work in Texas can expect to earn around USD 30,000 annually and the statistics for the state of Florida also give the figure at USD 30,000.

If you see the average salary, you will find that it fluctuates according to the line of work and the location of work. Analysts forecast that the job outlook for this profession in the coming years is good with growth being more than average compared to other professions.