Marine Biologist
Studies life in the oceans and along coasts, from plankton to whales, and how it responds to fishing, pollution and warming seas.
Marine biologists work for universities, research institutes, government agencies, conservation charities and environmental consultancies, splitting their time between boats, labs and desks. It suits people who are curious about the sea, comfortable with fieldwork and patient with data.
Also called Marine scientist, Marine ecologist, Aquatic biologist or Fisheries biologist.
At a glance
- Way in
- Bachelor's degree, often in marine biology, biology, zoology, ecology and oceanography
- Pay in the US
- $76,780 a year, the medianFor zoologists and wildlife biologists, 2025
- US outlook
- Average, 2025-2035
- Suits you if
- You love the sea and don't mind cold, wet fieldwork followed by careful data work.
Pay is a guide: it moves with the country, the employer, the sector and the years in the job. Figures from O*NET OnLine (US) and the National Careers Service (UK); see the sources below.
The work
What does a marine biologist do?
- Survey marine species and habitats from boats, from the shore or by diving.
- Collect water, sediment and tissue samples and analyse them in the lab.
- Track fish stocks and advise on how much can be caught sustainably.
- Measure how pollution, warming and coastal development affect marine ecosystems.
- Write reports and papers and explain the findings to policy makers and the public.
Where they work
- Universities and marine labs
- Government fisheries agencies
- Conservation charities
- Environmental consultancies
- Public aquariums
Skills
The skills a marine biologist needs
- Field skillssampling, species identification and sometimes diving
- Data analysisstatistics and mapping for survey data
- Ecology knowledgefood webs, populations and habitats
- Lab methodsmicroscopy and DNA-based identification
- Writingclear reports for funders, regulators and journals
- Resiliencelong days at sea in poor weather
Route in
How to become a marine biologist
- Take biology at school, plus chemistry, maths or geography if you can.
- Complete a degree in marine biology or a broader biology subject.
- Build field experience through volunteering, survey work or a diving qualification.
- Take a master's or PhD if you want to lead research projects.
Degrees people take
- Marine biology
- Biology
- Zoology
- Ecology
- Oceanography
Graduates can start in survey or lab assistant posts, but many research and consultancy roles ask for a master's or PhD.
Practise for it
The quizzes and tools that fit
- Marine Biology quizzes
- Sharks15 questions
- Marine Mammals10 questions
- Ocean Zones10 questions
- Ecology quizzes
- Climate Change15 questions
- Biomes15 questions
- Biodiversity15 questions
Also on biofideX
Next to it
Careers to weigh against it
Environment
Ecologist
- Way in
- Bachelor's
- US
- $82,220
- UK
- £24,000–£50,000
Environment
Zoologist
- Way in
- Bachelor's
- US
- $76,780
- UK
- £23,000–£48,000
Environment
Conservation Officer
- Way in
- Bachelor's
- US
- $73,010
- UK
- £22,000–£34,000
Environment
Environmental Scientist
- Way in
- Bachelor's
- US
- $82,220
- UK
- £25,000–£50,000
Sources
Where the facts come from
Written for biofideX from these public sources. The pay figures are theirs, copied as published, last read 2026-10-25.
Requirements differ by country and change over time; check with the body that registers the profession where you will work. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll correct it.
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