Becoming an Oceanographer via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
University of Maryland University College, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering biology courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
biologists,
marine biologists,
wildlife biologists,
molecular biologists,
fish and wildlife biologists,
fisheries biologists,
molecular biology professors, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 83,530 people employed as
environmental scientists and specialists, including health alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$67,360.
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers make on average $83,320
per year and there are about 9,900
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like University of Maryland University College that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for an Oceanographer
- government agency
- private firms
- nonprofit institution
- academic institution
- museum
- university
- school
- aquarium
- oceanographic institution
- on a beach
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as an Oceanographer
- get to study a wide range of topics associated with the structure and movement of the ocean
- get to work with ocean life
- meet new people
- decent pay
- decent benefits
- evaluate projects that you care about
- get to work with other like minded people
- get to work in aquariums
- travel
- get funded for global research activities
Potential Drawbacks
- always at sea
- dangerous work
- always studying the physical component of water
- have to travel often
- long hours
- stressful work
- work gets boring sometimes
- may face different kind of sea creatures
- researching the issues such as global warming and the ozone layer
- may have to work weekends
Related Professions to Consider
- Oceanography EOS
- Oceanographic Laboratory System Analyst
- Oceanographic Laboratory Technician
- Aquatics Engineer
- Marine Biologist
- Aquarium Director
- Oceanographic Engineer
- Oceanography Professor
- Aquarium Staff
- Marine Research Technician
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be an Oceanographer
- Where did you do your studies?
- Do you have experience in Marine biology?
- Demonstrate skills you have in an admin role?
- What is your level of education/?
- How has your education influenced your understanding of the ocean?
- What practical research experience do you have?
- What courses did you take in College?
- Tell me about a class oceanography project you completed. What did you learn?
- How can you answer when asked to give an example of a time when you had to get something accomplished with someone whom is a bit more difficult to get along with?
- What is the most rewarding aspect of the job?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Marine Research Technician
- meteorologist
- Aquarium Staff
- Oceanography Professor
- Oceanographic Engineer
- maritime archeologist
- Aquarium Director
- Marine Biologist
- Aquatics Engineer
- Oceanographic Laboratory Technician
Oceanographer Training books
Oceanographer (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Marine Geology and Geophysics
- Coastal Landscape and Ecology
- Marine Biology
- Marine Seismology
- Ocean Circulation
- Survey of Oceanography
- Chemical Oceanography
- Field Oceanography
- Marine Mammals
- Methods and Measurements
Oceanographer Salary Information
Category: Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
| Total # Employed in the US |
83,530 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$32.38/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $17.85 |
$22.12 |
$29.33 |
$39.18 |
$51.53 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$67,360 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $37,120 |
$46,000 |
$61,010 |
$81,500 |
$107,190 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.3% |
0.8% |
3.4% |
3.3% |
47.6% |
34.9% |
9.7% |
|
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$50.42/hr
|
$104,880
|
| Missouri |
$41.77/hr
|
$86,880
|
| Colorado |
$35.84/hr
|
$74,550
|
| Kansas |
$35.48/hr
|
$73,800
|
| Connecticut |
$35.46/hr
|
$73,760
|
| Wyoming |
$35.33/hr
|
$73,490
|
| Mississippi |
$35.29/hr
|
$73,410
|
| Oklahoma |
$34.3/hr
|
$71,350
|
| New York |
$33.97/hr
|
$70,650
|
| North Dakota |
$33.77/hr
|
$70,230
|
| Montana |
$33.26/hr
|
$69,180
|
| Alaska |
$32.72/hr
|
$68,060
|
| Delaware |
$32.71/hr
|
$68,030
|
| Utah |
$32.33/hr
|
$67,260
|
| Indiana |
$32/hr
|
$66,550
|
| Louisiana |
$31.65/hr
|
$65,830
|
| South Carolina |
$31.25/hr
|
$64,990
|
| Iowa |
$30.98/hr
|
$64,450
|
| Tennessee |
$30.8/hr
|
$64,060
|
| Pennsylvania |
$30.61/hr
|
$63,670
|
| Puerto Rico |
$29.75/hr
|
$61,890
|
| Guam |
$29.26/hr
|
$60,870
|
| Virginia |
$29.09/hr
|
$60,510
|
| District of Columbia |
$28.88/hr
|
$60,070
|
| North Carolina |
$28.2/hr
|
$58,650
|
| Ohio |
$27.93/hr
|
$58,100
|
| Nebraska |
$27.86/hr
|
$57,950
|
| Oregon |
$27.75/hr
|
$57,730
|
| Wisconsin |
$27.63/hr
|
$57,470
|
| Idaho |
$27.34/hr
|
$56,870
|
| Alabama |
$27.2/hr
|
$56,580
|
| Maine |
$27.11/hr
|
$56,380
|
| Hawaii |
$27/hr
|
$56,160
|
| New Jersey |
$26.85/hr
|
$55,840
|
| Massachusetts |
$26.81/hr
|
$55,750
|
| Arkansas |
$26.64/hr
|
$55,400
|
| Kentucky |
$26.25/hr
|
$54,600
|
| West Virginia |
$25.9/hr
|
$53,880
|
| Maryland |
$25.82/hr
|
$53,710
|
| Michigan |
$25.72/hr
|
$53,510
|
| Washington |
$25.37/hr
|
$52,760
|
| New Mexico |
$25.21/hr
|
$52,440
|
| New Hampshire |
$24.45/hr
|
$50,860
|
| California |
$24.33/hr
|
$50,600
|
| South Dakota |
$24.22/hr
|
$50,370
|
| Nevada |
$23.96/hr
|
$49,850
|
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
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average 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
|
