How much do marine biologists make?

Marine biologists earn a median of approximately $68,000 per year. Entry-level positions with a bachelor's degree start at $38,000–$50,000, while senior researchers with PhDs at federal agencies (NOAA, EPA, USGS) earn $80,000–$130,000.

Is marine biology a good career?

Marine biology is a highly competitive field with limited positions relative to the number of graduates. Pay is moderate compared to other STEM fields. Most stable, well-paying positions require a PhD and are at federal agencies or major research universities.

Do you need a PhD to be a marine biologist?

No, but a PhD significantly expands career options. A bachelor's in marine biology or biology leads to research technician or field biologist roles ($38,000–$55,000). A master's opens management and specialist roles ($55,000–$80,000). A PhD is required for independent research positions, tenure-track faculty, and senior government scientist roles.

Where do marine biologists work?

Marine biologists work at NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), USGS, EPA, state fish and wildlife agencies, universities and research institutions, aquariums, environmental consulting firms, and nonprofits. The federal government is the largest single employer.

What states have the most marine biology jobs?

Marine biologist jobs are concentrated in coastal states: California (MBARI, Scripps, NOAA), Washington, Oregon, Florida, Massachusetts, Virginia (NOAA headquarters area), and Hawaii.

Marine Biologist Salary 2026: What Marine Scientists Actually Earn

Marine biology combines passion for the ocean with scientific research — but the income reality is more modest than other STEM fields. Here’s what marine scientists actually earn at every career level.

Marine Biologist Salary by Career Level

Level	Degree Required	Median Salary	Range
Research Technician / Field Biologist	Bachelor’s	$44,000	$35,000–$55,000
Marine Biologist / Environmental Scientist	Bachelor’s/Master’s	$60,000	$45,000–$78,000
Senior Biologist / Researcher	Master’s/PhD	$78,000	$60,000–$105,000
Lead Scientist / Research Director	PhD	$100,000	$80,000–$140,000
University Professor (Tenure-Track)	PhD	$90,000	$65,000–$150,000+

Marine Biologist Salary by Employer

Employer Type	Median Salary	Notes
Federal Government (NOAA, USGS, EPA)	$88,000	GS pay scale; strong benefits
State Government (Fish & Wildlife)	$62,000	Varies by state
University / Research Institution	$70,000	Grad students often $30,000–$40,000 stipend
Aquarium / Zoo	$48,000	Curator roles higher; competitive market
Environmental Consulting Firm	$65,000	Private sector; billing-driven
Nonprofit / NGO	$52,000	Mission-driven; lower pay
Biotechnology / Pharma	$90,000	Marine-derived compounds; growing sector

Marine Biologist Salary by State

State	Median Salary	Notes
California	$80,000	Scripps, MBARI, Stanford Hopkins — top research institutions
Washington	$76,000	NOAA Northwest Fisheries, UW Friday Harbor Labs
Massachusetts	$74,000	Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Virginia	$82,000	NOAA headquarters, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Florida	$66,000	NOAA Southeast, Florida Fish & Wildlife
Hawaii	$72,000	NOAA Pacific, UH Manoa
Oregon	$68,000	NOAA Northwest, OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center

The NOAA GS Pay Scale for Marine Scientists

Federal marine scientists are typically employed at GS-9 through GS-14 levels:

GS Grade	Step 1 Salary	Experience Level
GS-9	$62,107	Entry-level (bachelor’s + 1 year)
GS-11	$75,200	Master’s or equivalent experience
GS-12	$90,168	Senior researcher
GS-13	$107,233	Lead scientist
GS-14	$126,717	Program manager / senior expert

2026 base rates; locality pay adds 15–30%+ in high-cost metro areas.

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

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