How much do marine biologists make?
About these figures: BLS does not publish separate pay for marine biologists. The pay figures on this page are for all zoologists and wildlife biologists (SOC 19-1023), the occupation marine biologists belong to. What differs for marine biologists.
Answer
BLS does not publish pay for marine biologists separately. Zoologists and wildlife biologists, the occupation marine biologists belong to, earned a median of $76,780 a year ($36.91 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $61,180 to $96,100.
- Median annual pay
- $76,780
- Mean $83,020
- Median hourly pay
- $36.91
- Mean $39.91
- Typical range (10th–90th)
- $49.1K–$126K
- $49,100 to $126,440
- US jobs
- 18,120
- +3.6% projected, 2025–35
BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026; figures for all zoologists and wildlife biologists. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology
How to become a marine biologist: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: Maryland
Pay range for all zoologists and wildlife biologists
Annual wages, May 2025
- 10th percentile$49,100
- 25th percentile$61,180
- Median$76,780
- 75th percentile$96,100
- 90th percentile$126,440
Half of all zoologists and wildlife biologists earned more than $76,780 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $49,100; the top 10% made over $126,440. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $61,180 to $96,100.
These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,100 | $23.61 | $4,092 |
| 25th | $61,180 | $29.41 | $5,098 |
| Median (50th) | $76,780 | $36.91 | $6,398 |
| 75th | $96,100 | $46.20 | $8,008 |
| 90th | $126,440 | $60.79 | $10,537 |
| Mean (average) | $83,020 | $39.91 | $6,918 |
Marine Biologist salary by state: pay for all zoologists and wildlife biologists
Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024
Highest-paying states
- 1. Maryland $107,500
- 2. District of Columbia $107,050
- 3. California $98,530
- 4. Alaska $90,370
- 5. Mississippi $88,710
Lowest-paying states
- 47. Texas $49,100
- 46. Florida $52,750
- 45. Indiana $54,670
- 44. Nebraska $57,890
- 43. Kentucky $61,950
Best after cost of living: Maryland. Its median of $107,500 is worth about $102,421 at national-average prices.
| Alabama | $74,290 | 26 | $83,638 | 10 | $35.71 | 290 | 0.14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $90,370 | 4 | $88,287 | 8 | $43.45 | 650 | 2.00 |
| Arizona | $66,880 | 36 | $66,430 | 43 | $32.15 | 410 | 0.13 |
| Arkansas | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| California | $98,530 | 3 | $88,990 | 7 | $47.37 | 2,210 | 0.12 |
| Colorado | $83,300 | 11 | $80,833 | 15 | $40.05 | 730 | 0.26 |
| Connecticut | $77,300 | 21 | $74,607 | 30 | $37.16 | 110 | 0.06 |
| Delaware | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | $107,050 | 2 | $97,406 | 4 | $51.46 | 140 | 0.20 |
| Florida | $52,750 | 46 | $51,009 | 46 | $25.36 | 1,400 | 0.14 |
| Georgia | $66,210 | 38 | $68,759 | 39 | $31.83 | 200 | 0.04 |
| Hawaii | $84,910 | 8 | $77,225 | 23 | $40.82 | 170 | 0.27 |
| Idaho | $73,360 | 31 | $76,822 | 24 | $35.27 | 380 | 0.45 |
| Illinois | $79,780 | 16 | $79,814 | 20 | $38.36 | 250 | 0.04 |
| Indiana | $54,670 | 45 | $58,578 | 45 | $26.28 | 120 | 0.04 |
| Iowa | $83,000 | 13 | $94,574 | 5 | $39.91 | 90 | 0.06 |
| Kansas | $66,440 | 37 | $73,766 | 33 | $31.94 | 160 | 0.11 |
| Kentucky | $61,950 | 43 | $68,712 | 40 | $29.79 | 150 | 0.07 |
| Louisiana | $87,460 | 6 | $99,153 | 3 | $42.05 | 50 | 0.03 |
| Maine | $74,490 | 25 | $76,754 | 25 | $35.81 | 330 | 0.52 |
| Maryland | $107,500 | 1 | $102,421 | 1 | $51.68 | 250 | 0.09 |
| Massachusetts | $84,350 | 9 | $79,758 | 21 | $40.55 | 470 | 0.13 |
| Michigan | $79,150 | 18 | $82,262 | 13 | $38.05 | 330 | 0.08 |
| Minnesota | $68,620 | 33 | $69,580 | 38 | $32.99 | 720 | 0.24 |
| Mississippi | $88,710 | 5 | $102,021 | 2 | $42.65 | 110 | 0.10 |
| Missouri | $76,400 | 22 | $84,125 | 9 | $36.73 | 120 | 0.04 |
| Montana | $78,850 | 19 | $83,311 | 11 | $37.91 | 430 | 0.84 |
| Nebraska | $57,890 | 44 | $64,249 | 44 | $27.83 | 140 | 0.14 |
| Nevada | $75,180 | 23 | $75,196 | 28 | $36.14 | 190 | 0.12 |
| New Hampshire | $73,560 | 30 | $70,619 | 37 | $35.37 | 40 | 0.06 |
| New Jersey | $83,030 | 12 | $76,311 | 27 | $39.92 | 90 | 0.02 |
| New Mexico | $68,220 | 35 | $73,982 | 32 | $32.80 | 170 | 0.19 |
| New York | $82,640 | 14 | $76,575 | 26 | $39.73 | 370 | 0.04 |
| North Carolina | $64,620 | 40 | $68,507 | 41 | $31.07 | 350 | 0.07 |
| North Dakota | $81,330 | 15 | $91,424 | 6 | $39.10 | 100 | 0.24 |
| Ohio | $74,550 | 24 | $80,357 | 17 | $35.84 | 220 | 0.04 |
| Oklahoma | $62,730 | 42 | $71,411 | 36 | $30.16 | 120 | 0.07 |
| Oregon | $85,150 | 7 | $82,381 | 12 | $40.94 | 1,010 | 0.51 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,540 | 20 | $80,494 | 16 | $37.76 | 200 | 0.03 |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| South Carolina | $64,090 | 41 | $68,363 | 42 | $30.81 | 250 | 0.11 |
| South Dakota | $65,890 | 39 | $74,380 | 31 | $31.68 | 170 | 0.38 |
| Tennessee | $73,570 | 29 | $80,081 | 18 | $35.37 | 310 | 0.09 |
| Texas | $49,100 | 47 | $50,589 | 47 | $23.61 | 580 | 0.04 |
| Utah | $73,920 | 28 | $74,769 | 29 | $35.54 | 370 | 0.21 |
| Vermont | $79,620 | 17 | $81,280 | 14 | $38.28 | 70 | 0.23 |
| Virginia | $72,340 | 32 | $71,550 | 35 | $34.78 | 290 | 0.07 |
| Washington | $83,780 | 10 | $78,290 | 22 | $40.28 | 1,840 | 0.52 |
| West Virginia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | $68,370 | 34 | $72,661 | 34 | $32.87 | 360 | 0.12 |
| Wyoming | $74,150 | 27 | $79,997 | 19 | $35.65 | 320 | 1.15 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure (4 states). State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.
Best-paying metro areas for zoologists and wildlife biologists
97 metro areas with published pay
| Metro area | Median | Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $129,940 | $117,675 | 40 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $122,170 | $111,169 | 30 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $113,800 | $126,436 | 30 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $104,330 | $95,818 | 270 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $99,490 | $95,218 | 100 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,230 | $85,829 | 300 |
| Salem, OR | $98,110 | $94,656 | 80 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $97,040 | $95,349 | 80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $96,450 | $86,788 | 720 |
| Worcester, MA | $93,930 | $91,618 | 70 |
| Metro area | Jobs | Median | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 720 | $96,450 | $86,788 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 350 | $89,880 | $85,258 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 310 | $61,050 | $58,242 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 300 | $99,230 | $85,829 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 300 | $55,050 | $54,564 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 270 | $104,330 | $95,818 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 250 | $82,500 | $79,579 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 250 | $93,500 | $83,566 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 240 | $49,100 | $47,628 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 240 | $53,230 | $46,630 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).
What moves marine biologist pay: employers and settings
BLS does not publish separate pay for marine biologists. The figures on this page are for the parent occupation, zoologists and wildlife biologists, which includes marine biologists along with land-based wildlife, bird and fisheries biologists. It covers 18,120 jobs.
Employer is the clearest pay factor. State government employs 40.7% of this group at a median of $70,420. The federal executive branch, which includes agencies such as NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, pays a median of $93,810. Consulting firms pay $84,570; nonprofit advocacy groups pay $56,700 and museums and similar institutions $50,070.
Location also matters. Maryland has the highest state median at $107,500, followed by the District of Columbia at $107,050, then California. Texas is lowest at $49,100. Across the parent group, the 10th percentile is $49,100, the median $76,780, and the 90th percentile $126,440, a wide spread. Those percentiles show how pay is spread across the group, not what it is after a given number of years, and BLS does not break the figures out by degree or by marine versus land-based work.
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals | 40.7% | $70,420 |
| Federal Executive Branch | 19.5% | $93,810 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 11.1% | $84,570 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | 6.9% | $56,700 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals | 5.8% | $80,980 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | 4.3% | $50,070 |
| Employer type | Jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Private employers | 5,720 | $71,630 |
| Federal government (incl. Postal Service) | 3,540 | $93,810 |
| State government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 7,760 | $70,610 |
| Local government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 1,100 | $79,880 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).
Zoologists and wildlife biologists pay over time
Median annual pay, 2015–2025
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
The median rose from $59,680 in 2015 to $76,780 in 2025, up 29% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2015 median is worth $80,675 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay fell 5% over the period.
BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.
What differs for marine biologists
Marine biology is not a separate federal job category, so marine biologists are counted with zoologists and wildlife biologists. What sets them apart is the setting: they work on and in salt water, which means small boats, research vessels, tides and weather windows rather than trucks and trails. Many positions call for boat handling skills, swimming ability and sometimes scientific diving.
Scientific divers are trained and authorized by their employer or university under standards set by the American Academy of Underwater Sciences. That training is a 100-hour course with 12 dives, beyond basic recreational certification. Nonresearch federal fish biology jobs (series 0482) also have a specific coursework rule: at least 6 semester hours in aquatic subjects and 12 in animal sciences.
People usually move into the specialty through a biology or marine science degree, seasonal technician jobs on surveys or observer programs, and often a master's degree with a marine research project. Jobs cluster in coastal states, and the parent group as a whole has only about 1,400 openings a year.
What marine biologists do
A marine biologist studies the animals and other life in the ocean and coastal waters: fish stocks, whales and dolphins, sea turtles, corals, kelp forests, plankton and the habitats that support them. In practice most marine biology jobs are applied. A state fisheries biologist counts and measures catches to help set fishing limits. A federal biologist reviews whether a dredging or offshore wind project will harm protected species. A consultant surveys a harbor before construction, and a university researcher runs experiments and writes papers.
The work splits between fieldwork and desk work. Field days mean boats, nets, trawls, tagging gear, sampling bottles and sometimes scuba, often in cold or rough conditions and sometimes for weeks at sea. Back on land, the bigger share of the time goes to lab analysis, statistics, databases, permits and reports. Marine biologists work with fishery managers, oceanographers, boat crews, regulators and the public, and many entry-level jobs are seasonal or technician roles.
A typical day
- Collect fish, invertebrates, plankton or water samples from boats, docks and shorelines
- Count, measure, tag or photograph animals during population surveys
- Identify specimens in the lab and enter data into shared databases
- Run statistics in R or similar software to estimate population size or trends
- Write survey reports, permit reviews and grant proposals
- Maintain field gear, boats and dive equipment and plan safe trips around weather and tides
- Explain findings to fishery managers, agencies, students and the public
Also called: marine biology, marine biologists.
How to become a marine biologist
Full guideTo become a marine biologist, you earn a bachelor's degree in biology, marine science or zoology, gain field experience through internships and seasonal jobs, and usually complete a master's degree for permanent research or agency roles. No license is required. Expect 4 years for an entry-level job and about 6 to 7 years for most permanent positions.
- Typical time
- 6-7 years
- Fastest: 4 years
- Minimum education
- Bachelor's degree in biology, marine science, zoology or a related field
- License
- Not licensed (certification optional); scientific diving and boat operation require separate training where the job calls for them
- Typical training cost
- $49.1K–$52.6K
- See the guide for what it includes
Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a marine biologist: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.
Is it worth it? Training cost against pay
Compare careers- Training time
- 6-7 years
- Typical path in our guide
- Training cost
- $49.1K–$52.6K
- Tuition and exam fees, before aid
- Median pay
- $76,780
- All zoologists and wildlife biologists; $25,800 above the all-jobs median ($50,980)
- Cost vs. one year's pay
- 64–69%
- Training cost as a share of a year at the median
Once qualified, the pay difference over the typical US job at the median ($25,800 a year before tax) would repay the training cost in about 1.9–2.0 years after training ends (6-7 years in our guide). This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.
Job outlook for zoologists and wildlife biologists
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +3.6%
- All occupations +3.5%
- Jobs in 2025
- 19,500
- 20,200 projected for 2035
- Openings each year
- 1,400
- New jobs plus replacements
- Self-employed
- 0.9%
- Not in the pay figures above
BLS projects employment of zoologists and wildlife biologists, the group that includes marine biologists, to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, from 19,500 to 20,200, about the same as the 3.5% average. That means about 1,400 openings a year across the whole group, and only a share of those are marine. Demand comes from biodiversity loss, ecosystem change research and conservation planning. BLS also notes a limit: much of the funding comes from federal, state and local government budgets, so hiring can slow when those budgets tighten. With so few openings, permanent marine jobs are hard to land.
Related careers and their pay
- Biological Scientists, All Other$98,920
- Conservation Scientists$73,010
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,220
- Fish and Game Wardens$74,060
- Soil and Plant Scientists$78,850
Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Marine Biologist salary FAQ
How much do marine biologists make an hour?
BLS does not publish separate pay for marine biologists. For all zoologists and wildlife biologists, the occupation they belong to, the median hourly wage was $36.91 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $23.61 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $60.79. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.
Which state pays marine biologists the most?
BLS does not publish separate pay for marine biologists. For all zoologists and wildlife biologists, the occupation they belong to, Maryland has the highest median pay, $107,500 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($107,050) and California ($98,530). After adjusting for each state's price level, Maryland comes out ahead at about $102,421 in national-average dollars.
Do marine biologists make six figures?
BLS does not publish separate pay for marine biologists. For all zoologists and wildlife biologists, the occupation they belong to, based on the BLS percentiles, between 10% and 25% of zoologists and wildlife biologists earn more than $100,000 a year. The median is $76,780, and the top 10% earn more than $126,440. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.
Is it hard to get a job as a marine biologist?
Yes, permanent jobs are competitive. The whole parent group has only about 1,400 openings a year nationally, and many people want ocean work. Most graduates start in seasonal technician jobs, fisheries observer programs, internships or graduate research before landing a permanent position. Strong statistics skills, field experience on boats and a master's degree all improve your chances.
Do marine biologists have to scuba dive?
No, many never dive for work. Fisheries surveys, lab research, data analysis and regulatory jobs are done from boats, docks and offices. Jobs studying coral reefs, kelp forests or other underwater habitats often do require it. Working divers at universities and agencies are trained under American Academy of Underwater Sciences standards, a 100-hour course with 12 dives run by the employer or school.
Do marine biologists spend a lot of time at sea?
It depends on the job. Some spend weeks or months a year on research vessels or remote coasts, and BLS notes that fieldwork can mean long stretches away from home. Others go out for day trips during a survey season and spend most of the year in a lab or office analyzing data and writing reports. Senior roles usually involve more desk work.
Sources
Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 19-1023
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
- O*NET 31.0 Database (19-1023.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists: Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
- Fish Biology Series 0482, U.S. Office of Personnel Management · checked October 28, 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions, American Academy of Underwater Sciences · checked October 28, 2026
- Certification: Fisheries Professional Associate (FPA), CareerOneStop / O*NET (certification record for the American Fisheries Society) · checked October 28, 2026
- TWS Certifications, The Wildlife Society · checked October 28, 2026
- License Finder, CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) · checked October 28, 2026
Careers and Salaries is not affiliated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Found an error? Tell us; corrections are listed on the editorial policy page.