Marine Biologists

Career summary

Marine biologists are scientists who study plant and animal life in oceans.

Marine biologists focus on many subject areas, such as:

Migration of sea turtles
Interaction between sea anemones and coral
Population changes in different species of fish
Whale migration
Habitats such as coral reefs, kelp forests, tide pools, or the open ocean

Marine biologists read articles and attend conferences to learn more about their research area. They come up with questions to research. They design experiments to study those questions. Biologists experiment in labs, oceans, or other sites.

Some biologists collect specimens from the ocean to study in labs, others spend hours observing animal life in their natural habitat or in aquariums. Marine biologists also train or care for sea animals in captivity.

Some marine biologists have assistants and train them to conduct research, collect data, and keep records. Biologists interpret the study results and write reports. They may present their findings at conferences.

Marine biologists work in teams and independently. They may work with engineers, business managers, technicians, and other scientists. Many marine biologists work for private companies or the government. Others work for colleges or non-profits. Marine biologists may also direct fisheries, or oversee aquariums.

Related careers

This career is part of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

Other programs of study to consider

Training

To work as a marine biologist, you typically need to:

have a high school diploma or equivalent;
complete a bachelor's degree in marine biology or a related field; and
complete a master's or doctoral degree in marine biology.

Education after high school

With a bachelor's degree in marine biology or a related field you can be a research assistant. You usually need a master's degree in marine biology for jobs in research. In marine biology, you study life science, chemistry, math, and computer science. You also learn to work in the field studying salt-water organisms.

You must have a doctoral degree (PhD) to lead research projects and teach at a college or university. Most academic and research positions also require research experience. Training in teaching and writing is also helpful.

Many colleges and universities have bachelor's degree programs in biology. Fewer have doctoral and master's programs.

Work experience

It is a good idea to get experience in the field as soon as possible. Summer positions are available for college and high school students.

After completing a doctoral degree, some marine biologists choose to research at a university. Here you gain extensive experience. This position can lead to a job as a professor at a university.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum (external link) may be different from your state's graduation requirements .

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

Biology
Chemistry
Environmental Science
Marine Science
Natural Resources Management
Physical Science
Physics
Probability and Statistics

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups (PDF file) that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

In high school and college, enroll in programs that let you explore ocean life outside of a lab.
If you are considering a career in marine biology, you should have strong research skills. You should also have good oral and written communication skills.
It's important to be able to work both independently and as part of a team. You should be creative, curious, and self-motivated.
Many marine biologists do fieldwork. For this you should be in good physical shape. Living conditions during fieldwork can be uncomfortable, especially if the work requires you to live onboard a ship for long periods of time. You may have to deal with small living spaces, close personal contact with team members, and being away from family.
Scuba diving certification can be an asset. Experience handling a boat can also be helpful.
Most marine biologists work in a laboratory nine to ten hours a day, 40 to 50 hours a week. Biologists working as professors may work up to 60 hours a week.
Marine biologists tend to work for larger employers, such as colleges, government agencies, or aquariums.
The median earnings for marine biologists are around $55,000 a year. However, earnings for marine biologists vary. Experience and expertise can affect income. In academic settings, the number of articles or books published and seniority within the faculty determine income.

Other resources

American Fisheries Society
425 Barlow Place, Suite 110
Bethesda, MD 20814-2144
301.897.8616

American Institute of Biological Sciences
1800 Alexander Bell Drive, Suite 400
Reston, VA 20191
703.674.2500

American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists

American Society of Mammalogists

Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography

Careers in Oceanography, Marine Science, and Marine Biology

Careers in the Aquatic Sciences
(from the Association for the Sciences of Liminology and Oceanography)

Careers in the Biological Sciences
From the American Institute of Biological Sciences

Engineering & Science Career Videos

International Marine Animal Trainers' Association
885 Woodstock Road
Suite 340-202
Roswell, GA 30075-2274

MarineBio.org
1995 Fairlee Drive
Encinitas, CA 92024

Marinecareers.net

National Academy of Sciences Interviews

National Association of Marine Laboratories
950 Herndon Parkway, Suite 450
Herndon, VA 20170
800.955.1236
703.790.1745

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 5128
Washington, DC 20230
202.482.6090

National Science Foundation
2415 Eisenhower Avenue
Alexandria, Virginia 2231

Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Sea Education Association
P.O. Box 6
Woods Hole, MA 02543

Seaweb Aquaculture Clearing House

The Oceanography Society
1 Research Court, Suite 450
Rockville, MD, 20850

The Wildlife Society
425 Barlow Place, Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814
301.897.9770

Women Exploring the Oceans

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
266 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543
508.289.2252

References

Career cluster

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Career path

Investigative (Science)

O*Net job zone

Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

DOT occupation

Aquatic Biologist (041.061-022)

Strong Interest Inventory

Biologist

COPSystem

Science Professional