Becoming a Marine Scientist via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Ashford University, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering science courses to train individuals to become top-notch scientists, information scientists, bioengineers, biophysicists, anthropologists, biochemists, biomathematicians, biologists, bioinformatics specialists, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 17,460 people employed as zoologists and wildlife biologists alone in America, and their average annual salary is $60,670. Biological scientists make on average $69,430 per year and there are about 29,630 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Ashford University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Marine Scientist
  • aquariums
  • lakes
  • on the beach
  • in the ocean
  • in a mini submarine
  • wetlands
  • in an office
  • everglades
  • in a lab
  • underwater
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Marine Scientist
  • work outside
  • study beautiful specimens
  • travel by boat
  • scuba dive and get paid for it
  • wear a bathing suit all day
  • get a sun tan
  • travel to all parts of the world
  • view endangered types of marine life
  • see beautiful beaches
  • meet interesting people
Potential Drawbacks
  • you get dirty
  • you don't get paid as much as you could doing something else
  • you have to speak publicly
  • you have to go out on a boat and sometimes you may get sea sick
  • you have to be somewhat good at math
  • in order to get better pay you must be willing to further your education
  • you may have to relocate
  • you sometimes may be at sea for weeks
  • you need physical strength to do some tasks
  • you sometimes have to work around the clock
Related Professions to Consider
  • Marine Marketing Professional
  • Naval Architecture Student
  • Marine Surveyer
  • Mega Yacht engineer
  • Heat Transfer Specialist
  • Sea Port Manager
  • Shipboard Firefighter
  • Marine Product and Boat Supplier
  • Tightness tester
  • Renewable Energy Specialist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Marine Scientist
  • Can you please describe your job for me ?
  • When did you become interested in marine biology?
  • What got you interested in becoming a marine biologist?
  • What classes should students in High School take to prepare themselves for a career in marine biolo?
  • What degrees do you need and what do you have to become a marine biologist?
  • Where do you work?
  • Do you work with a specific animal?
  • Has technology had an impact on this career?
  • What is the greatest memory of your career?
  • Would you change any part of your career?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Marine/Freshwater Ecologist
  • Assistant Marine Scientist Project Manager
  • Environmental - Senior Marine Scientist/Engineer II
  • Post-doctoral Social Scientist- Marine Protected Areas
  • Scientist Marine Biologist
  • Software Scientist (BI Architect)
  • Assoc Scientist-MAS
  • Physical Scientist Environmental
  • Entry Level: Coastal Engineer / Scientist
  • Senior Environmental Scientist
Marine Scientist Training books Marine Scientist (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Marine Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Environmental Studies
  • Ecology
  • Biochemistry
  • Marine Ecology
  • Microbiology
  • Physiology

Marine Scientist Salary Information

Category: Zoologists and wildlife biologists

Total # Employed in the US 17,460
Average Hourly Wage: $29.17/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$16.96 $21.55 $27.16 $34.61 $44.78
Average Yearly Salary $60,670
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$35,280 $44,830 $56,500 $71,990 $93,140
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.1% 0.9% 2.6% 3.3% 43.2% 30.2% 19.8%
Zoologists and wildlife biologists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Mississippi $43.78/hr $91,050
Virginia $37.23/hr $77,440
Colorado $35.17/hr $73,160
Delaware $34.61/hr $71,990
Massachusetts $33.24/hr $69,150
Indiana $32.86/hr $68,360
Missouri $32.04/hr $66,650
Montana $31.07/hr $64,620
Oregon $30.42/hr $63,270
Tennessee $30.33/hr $63,080
Ohio $30.27/hr $62,960
North Dakota $30.22/hr $62,860
Kansas $29.55/hr $61,470
Alaska $29.24/hr $60,830
Nevada $29.1/hr $60,520
Oklahoma $29.07/hr $60,460
Iowa $28.6/hr $59,490
Connecticut $28.51/hr $59,300
Alabama $28.39/hr $59,040
New York $28.31/hr $58,890
Utah $27.74/hr $57,710
New Jersey $27.4/hr $56,990
Washington $26.82/hr $55,780
Pennsylvania $26.78/hr $55,700
North Carolina $26.64/hr $55,400
Louisiana $26.53/hr $55,180
Nebraska $26.01/hr $54,110
Hawaii $25.83/hr $53,720
South Carolina $25.34/hr $52,710
New Mexico $25.23/hr $52,490
Arkansas $25.15/hr $52,310
Guam $24.99/hr $51,980
California $24.76/hr $51,500
Michigan $24.54/hr $51,050
South Dakota $24.39/hr $50,730
Idaho $24.21/hr $50,350
West Virginia $24.16/hr $50,260
New Hampshire $24.12/hr $50,180
Wisconsin $23.59/hr $49,060
Wyoming $21.98/hr $45,710


Category: Biological scientists, all other

Total # Employed in the US 29,630
Average Hourly Wage: $33.38/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$17.67 $24.24 $31.98 $39.26 $48.36
Average Yearly Salary $69,430
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$36,750 $50,420 $66,510 $81,650 $100,580
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.1% 0.9% 2.6% 3.3% 43.2% 30.2% 19.8%
Biological scientists, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $50.17/hr $104,350
Mississippi $43.75/hr $91,000
North Dakota $38.11/hr $79,270
Kansas $36.71/hr $76,350
Oregon $35.51/hr $73,850
Louisiana $35.1/hr $73,010
New Mexico $34.89/hr $72,580
Delaware $34.8/hr $72,380
South Dakota $34.39/hr $71,530
Colorado $34.39/hr $71,520
Indiana $34.37/hr $71,490
Idaho $34.17/hr $71,070
Alaska $34.08/hr $70,880
North Carolina $33.81/hr $70,330
Wisconsin $33.61/hr $69,910
Massachusetts $33.6/hr $69,890
Oklahoma $33.47/hr $69,620
Puerto Rico $32.92/hr $68,470
Connecticut $32.73/hr $68,080
Utah $32.22/hr $67,020
Washington $31.58/hr $65,690
South Carolina $31.52/hr $65,560
Alabama $31.02/hr $64,510
Wyoming $30.69/hr $63,830
New York $30.53/hr $63,500
Montana $30.51/hr $63,450
New Hampshire $30.4/hr $63,230
Maine $30.25/hr $62,920
Nebraska $30.22/hr $62,860
Tennessee $30/hr $62,390
Guam $29.47/hr $61,290
California $28.89/hr $60,080
Ohio $28.85/hr $60,000
Iowa $28.67/hr $59,630
Arkansas $28.31/hr $58,880
Kentucky $27.5/hr $57,200
Maryland $27.41/hr $57,020
Missouri $27.27/hr $56,710
New Jersey $26.98/hr $56,120
Hawaii $26.23/hr $54,560
District of Columbia $25.28/hr $52,580


Category: Conservation scientists

Total # Employed in the US 16,810
Average Hourly Wage: $29.41/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$17.1 $22.18 $28.92 $35.26 $42.25
Average Yearly Salary $61,180
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$35,570 $46,140 $60,160 $73,340 $87,890
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.8% 1.1% 7.2% 6.5% 62.8% 18.2% 3.5%
Conservation scientists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Alaska $40.76/hr $84,790
Hawaii $35.7/hr $74,260
Florida $35.61/hr $74,070
Massachusetts $33.79/hr $70,290
North Carolina $33.47/hr $69,620
Delaware $33.47/hr $69,610
Colorado $33.24/hr $69,140
Mississippi $33.24/hr $69,130
Maine $32.8/hr $68,230
Kansas $32.64/hr $67,890
California $32.43/hr $67,450
Washington $32.43/hr $67,450
Indiana $32.42/hr $67,440
Wisconsin $32.04/hr $66,630
Tennessee $31.67/hr $65,870
Maryland $31.26/hr $65,030
South Dakota $30.92/hr $64,320
North Dakota $30.46/hr $63,350
New Mexico $30.44/hr $63,310
Pennsylvania $30.44/hr $63,320
Nebraska $30.35/hr $63,120
Alabama $30.15/hr $62,720
Ohio $30.04/hr $62,490
Connecticut $29.69/hr $61,760
Idaho $29.51/hr $61,370
Montana $29.4/hr $61,150
Iowa $29.26/hr $60,850
South Carolina $29.02/hr $60,370
Arkansas $28.82/hr $59,940
Kentucky $28.77/hr $59,850
Wyoming $28.56/hr $59,400
New Jersey $27.88/hr $57,980
Missouri $27.68/hr $57,570
Puerto Rico $27.49/hr $57,170
New York $27.08/hr $56,330
Guam $27.07/hr $56,300
Michigan $26.73/hr $55,600
Oklahoma $26.72/hr $55,570
West Virginia $26.17/hr $54,440
Oregon $26.17/hr $54,430
Nevada $25.57/hr $53,180
New Hampshire $25.48/hr $53,010
Louisiana $24.73/hr $51,440
Utah $21.2/hr $44,090


Category: Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary

Total # Employed in the US 9,900
Average Yearly Salary $83,320
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$43,350 $57,260 $78,660 $104,330 $133,080
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.2% 0.7% 2.7% 2.3% 15.3% 34.6% 44.2%
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Colorado - $88,300
Connecticut - $65,910
Hawaii - $72,620
Idaho - $67,620
Indiana - $75,630
Kansas - $51,590
Kentucky - $73,060
Louisiana - $85,620
Maine - $68,430
Maryland - $72,490
Michigan - $80,340
Mississippi - $100,780
Missouri - $103,890
Montana - $92,840
Nebraska - $75,200
Nevada - $74,120
New Hampshire - $72,050
New Jersey - $54,740
North Dakota - $85,040
Ohio - $67,770
Oklahoma - $100,310
Oregon - $76,380
Pennsylvania - $66,170
South Carolina - $78,870
Utah - $87,290
Virginia - $109,890
Washington - $77,470
Wisconsin - $50,740
Wyoming - $87,220
Guam - $68,600


Science Programs by State & City