Entomology is the study of insects. There are hundreds of United States entomology degree programs to study bugs, and entomologists have a number of career and job options, such as pest control, entomology field research studies, and forensic entomology.
Those seeking to become an insect expert should be aware that there are limited job opportunities as a lower-level entomologist. Like many fields, if you want to have an entomology career, it is best to widen your options by going for the highest degree possible. Many job openings are for entomologists with a doctorate degree only. Although there are some positions (such as insect collection) for those with a bachelor’s degree in entomology, a master’s degree will almost always be preferred.
The Universities website has a large listing of entomology bachelor’s degree programs. Attending one of these programs is not required to advance to the graduate level, but it could be helpful if you intend on getting accepted into programs with an entomology master’s degree and also if you aim to become a professional entomologist.
The Entomological Society of America lists about 55 entomology graduate degree programs at the time of this writing. Not all programs are necessarily entomology, but they may be in related disciplines or incorporate entomology into a broadly based degree program.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lumps entomologists into the “agricultural and food scientist” category and says that there were 31,000 such jobs in 2008. So the number of entomologist jobs is not certain, but it is definitely less than the 31,000 jobs in agriculture and food science. While not bleak, entomology has a limited job market.
The Entomological Society of America also maintains a running list of entomologist job opportunities. Some of these jobs do require a doctoral degree in entomology or a related science, so the more education you have, the better.
A major government employer of entomologists is the Agricultural Research Service, which is part of the United States Department of Agriculture. This federal agency does insect collection and develops insect-control methods to reduce insect-based damage to the nation’s crops and produce. The Entomological Society of America posts Agricultural Research Service jobs, but you can also visit the Service’s website to look for entomology jobs on the USDA site. See the links below to find these entomologist career resources.
The related field of forensic entomology is the use of insect knowledge in the courts. For example, there were several forensic entomologists in the recent Casey Anthony murder trial. Occasionally, a murder case can actually turn on bug evidence, as the life cycle of insects can sometimes help to establish a time of death and other important forensic evidence.
Forensic entomologists, like other court experts, can be paid a hefty sum in certain situations. But be aware that this is as much a business as it is about being an expert entomologist. You need to get published as much as possible to establish your expertise in the field and then start marketing yourself as an expert in legal circles if you want to build a career as a forensic entomologist. Public speaking is also important, as an overly nervous expert on the witness stand will not be effective. Again, this is more of a business than a job opportunity. However, if you can establish yourself as an expert ( a doctorate would be extremely helpful), then you may be able to develop a lucrative side business as a forensic entomologist.
Resources:
Entomological Society of America: Entomology Job Postings
USDA Agricultural Research Service: Careers with Agricultural Research Service
Universities: Entomology Bachelor’s Degree Programs
Entomological Society of America: Entomology Graduate Degree Programs
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Careers in Agriculture and Food Science