A career as a marine biologist may be appealing to you if you enjoy the water and marine life. Marine biologists work for governments, universities, aquariums, businesses, and conservation organizations while studying plants, animals, and protists in salt water. While you may long to work in far-off places, that is only one aspect of a marine biologist’s job. If you are patient and persistent and enjoy science, this may be the profession for you.
According to the Love Lab, studying amazing creatures, swimming with dolphins, and diving in remote locations are just a few aspects of marine biology. Marine biologists work long hours in the lab, squinting over their desks to examine microscopic specimens, analyzing data, and writing and revising reports. If spending long hours at a desk going over the specifics of an experiment isn’t your thing, you might want to think about switching careers.
Marine biology might not be a good fit if you’re looking for a career with a salary that everyone else will envious of. Marine biology pay may be less than you anticipate, especially at the lower rungs of the career ladder, despite the title and work sounding prestigious. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, reports that the median annual salary for zoologists and wildlife biologists, which includes marine biologists, was $66,350 in 2020. Entry-level workers would most likely be in the bottom 10 percent of earners, who made $41,720 or less annually. The top 10 percent earned $106,320 or more annually. With an average yearly salary of $88,390, the federal government was the highest-paying sector.
What does a marine biologist do?
A marine biologist can gather information and conduct research for cultivation and conservation by studying ocean life and how humans affect it. A marine biologist publishes significant findings from their research and disseminates them to both the scientific community and the general public.
Marine biologists have a variety of responsibilities, such as researching marine life and other living things, examining marine environments and basic processes, and taking part in both general and problem-based research teams. They may carry out fieldwork, work in a lab, or do both. A marine biologist is a subset of an aquatic biologist who only studies saltwater organisms, as opposed to a limnologist who studies organisms in freshwater.
What is a marine biologist?
A marine biologist is a scientist who focuses on the ocean’s plants and animals. A marine biologist studies how various marine species interact with one another in order to better understand ecosystems, biology, and behaviors. Marine biologists may also investigate the effects that human interaction has on marine biology in addition to examining how ocean life affects itself.
Marine biologist requirements
The education prerequisites, training prerequisites, and abilities needed to become a marine biologist are as follows:
Education
Most jobs in marine biology will require a doctorate due to the extensive knowledge of biochemical, genomic, evolutionary, and physiological processes required. Completing a Ph. D. You can select a specialty from among microbiology, vertebrate biology, or deep-sea biology as part of a Marine Biology program.
Training
While a Ph. D. is the bare minimum needed to become a marine biologist, but in order to advance in your career and acquire the skills required for a marine biology career, on-the-job training is typically also required.
Skills
Learning a variety of skills, including physics, applied mathematics, computational research, and data analysis, is required of marine biologists. To succeed in your specialty and build a career in your chosen field, you may also need to learn additional skills to become a marine biology specialist. Many of these skills can be learned in a Ph. D. program, but many skills can also be learned on-the-job.
In addition to these technical abilities, communication plays a big role in marine biology. A marine biologist might have to address groups, the general public, academic institutions, management, and other scientists and biologists. Being able to communicate effectively can help you stand out from the crowd, which can advance your career and land you higher-paying leadership positions in marine biology.
Average salary
According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for biologists is a growth rate of 5% from 2018 to 2028, which is as fast as the average for all positions For zoologists, wildlife biologists, and other types of biologists, the median annual salary in 2018 was $63,420. While a bachelor’s degree is typically required for entry-level positions, many marine biology positions require a Ph. D.
Depending on their qualifications, training, and area of specialization, marine biologists can work in a variety of marine biology sub-fields and industries. The following provides details on the various careers that marine biologists can pursue.
The employment outlook for various marine biologist fields is broken down as follows:
Industry careers
With large teams and regular hours, working in an environmental department or research and development department of a large company can provide security. As a marine biologist, you can find employment in fields like biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, energy generation, manufacturing, construction, and resource exploration. Industry jobs depend on economic conditions and market demand, but they can offer you a fulfilling career in the industry or field of your choice.
Academic careers
You might think about working in academia as a researcher, instructor, or teacher. The minimum requirement for these positions is a master’s degree, and many academic research or teaching positions in marine biology call for a Ph. D. Some settings—like in a prestigious university—could require much more research and training than teaching, whereas others—like community colleges and junior colleges—will require more teaching than research. An academic career in marine biology can be rewarding for those who enjoy instructing and directing the upcoming generation of marine biologists.
Government careers
You might choose to pursue a career in marine biology in the government. While federal funding for marine research has decreased, there are still plenty of jobs in state, city, and local government. A government position can be a great fit if you enjoy working toward objectives that can benefit or have an impact on society. There are lots of chances to specialize in a branch of marine biology, so you can take advantage of them even if you have to move to find the right job for you.
Consulting careers
For those with a specialty in a branch of marine biology, a career as a research scientist at a consulting firm who reviews data and presents findings can be lucrative. You must rely on abilities like communication, presentation, and extensive knowledge in a particular specialty to succeed in this field because it is very competitive.
Nonprofit careers
Nonprofit marine biology organizations (NGOs) that are organized without receiving government funding are typically nonprofit marine biology companies. Some marine biologists relish the chance to use their research and analytical abilities to address significant issues or challenges in particular branches of marine biology. Marine biologists are required by many nonprofit organizations in specialized fields like microbiology, engineering, deep-sea exploration, and others. If you enjoy collaborating with others to achieve a common objective and develop solutions to some of the biggest problems facing the world, joining a nonprofit organization may be a great choice.
Non-research careers
Additionally, marine biologists have the option to work in a field unrelated to research. You may want to think about careers in engineering, water quality management, environmental education, public relations and communication, tourism, aquaculture, or marine electronics when governments cut funding and nonprofits run out of money. Even though a significant portion of marine biology is research, you can find careers outside of the general research field and build a career in a non-research field.
9 Careers in Marine Biology You Should Know About // Careers in Biology
FAQ
Are marine biologists in high demand?
What Are the Future Employment and Salary Prospects for Marine Biologists? S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects employment of wildlife biologists and zoologists, including marine biologists, to rise by just 5% between 2020 and 2030, which is about as fast as the average for all U S. occupations (www. bls. gov).
Is it hard to find a job as a marine biologist?
Since there is a shortage of marine biologists, you must plan ahead if you want to be competitive.
Is Marine Biology a good career choice?
Marine Biology is a great field of study. It provides a wide range of career opportunities. Marine biologists can find jobs in a variety of fields. They may hold positions as researchers, educators, or administrators at colleges and universities.
What is the employment rate of a marine biologist?
Marine Biology is a great field of study. It provides a wide range of career opportunities. Marine biologists can find jobs in a variety of fields. They may hold positions as researchers, educators, or administrators at colleges and universities.
