Marine Biologist Job Description Information

About two-thirds of the Earth is covered by water. The secrets kept by the creatures living within the planet's seas, oceans, rivers and lakes are investigated and revealed by marine biologists.

 

Research Role

  • A marine biologist may work purely as an academic in a research role, The work will often entail enacting scientific experiments that may serve to benefit marine life. This typically involves observing and analyzing data, then turning it into a functional, operable report. The scope of work may vary dramatically, depending on the position and need, but typically would involve environmental conservation, plant and animal research and water management.

Rescue Missions

  • A marine biologist may work on a rescue mission to help support animals in the sea that are endangered or in trouble. Marine biologists may be dispatched to oil spills. During the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, marine biologists were sent there to fully assess the spill's ecological effects since spills can have lingering environmental impacts. Marine biologists also assist with rescue activities.

Qualifications

  • To become a marine biologist, get at least a Bachelor of Science degree, preferably from a university that offers a specialization in marine sciences. You'll also need to get a master's degree, and because marine biology is a highly competitive field, a doctorate in marine biology. An internship is a recommended first step to come in contact with experienced marine biologists and attain practical experience in such fields as marine ecology and conservation management.

Salary and Job Outlook

  • Marine biologists are biological scientists. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) -- the federal government's fact-finding agency -- keeps statistics on most professions, including biologic scientists. The BLS reports that in 2008, the median annual salary of microbiologists was $64,350. The BLS expects employment of biological scientists to grow 21 percent from 2008 to 2018.

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Marine Biologist Salary Information

If you're interested in pursuing a career as a marine biologist, it's important to consider your salary options. Don't let the low starting salary scare you away because that is typical for most jobs, and if you stay in it long enough, your income most likely increase. Other things to consider are the size and type of company for which you may work, as these things also influence your salary potential.

 

Experience

  • In most careers, the more experience you have if the field, the higher your potential salary. This observation holds somewhat true with marine biologists. As of April 2010, veteran marine biologists with 20-plus years of experience have a salary range of $60,300 to $92,600 and those with 10 to 19 years of experience have a salary range of $48,400 to $82,500. Oddly, of the reported salaries on PayScale.com, marine biologists with less than one year of experience have a salary range of $38,800 to $97,200.

Education

  • Marine biologists with higher levels of education generally have higher salaries than those with a lower level; just like with many other careers. According to PayScale, those with a Master of Science (MS) in Biology have one of the highest and largest reported ranges of $46,000 to $100,500. Those with a general MS have a significantly lower range of $38,000 to $47,400 and those with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology have a salary range of $34,000 to $49,400 as of April 2010.

Employer Type

  • Job positions for marine biologists are available in many different types of companies. Those working for private practices or firms have the largest range in salaries, giving them both the highest and lowest potential salaries. According to PayScale, salaries for marine biologists in private practices can range from $31,700 to $100,000 as of April 2010. Those working for the federal and state or local governments have a salary range of $37,000 to $73,700 and $41,700 to $71,900.

Employer Size

  • Salaries for marine biologists may vary based on the size of the company for which they work. Of the reported salaries, marine biologists working for larger companies generally have higher salaries. For example, as of March 2010, those working for companies with 10 to 49 employees have a salary range of $29,700 to $66,000 while those working for somewhat larger companies with 600 to 1,999 employees have a range o f$39,300 to $112,000 according to PayScale.

Benefits

  • Marine biologists often receive benefits along with their salary options. Some of these benefits include a 401K, life and disability insurance, paid holidays and vacation time, paid sick leave and/or a cell phone allowance. Many marine biologists may also have the perk of working in a casual atmosphere and also dressing casually. According to PayScale, the most common benefits given to marine biologists include paid holidays and vacation, and paid sick leave.

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How to Become a Marine Biologist

Much science graduates wants to become a Marine Biologist, but they need to know regarding how to become a Marine Biologist before taking any further step.

Many individual want to take up Marine Biologist as a profession because they love swimming; they love marine animals or either they think that Marine Biologist life is like being in a holiday every day.

Pre-steps on becoming a Marine Biologist

Before deciding on how to become a marine Biologist, the individual needs to take certain steps.
These steps are as follows:
  1. The individual needs to be very clear whether that the profession of Marine Biologist will suit him or her.
  2. Whether he or she will be able to be under water most of the time.
  3. Whether he or she is ready to take up the risk that is involved in this profession.
If the answer to the above mentioned questions is yes, then in that case, he or she can take up the profession.

How to become a Marine Biologist

An individual needs to have certain educational qualification as well as certain attitude within him or her before thinking on how to become a Marine Biologist.
The qualification on how to become a Marine Biologist is as follows: -
  1. The individual needs to take proper education to become a Marine biologist.
  2. There are different profiles associated with how to become a marine biologist, like Biological technicians, fish technicians, Marine technicians and few others. There are many more things that an individual needs to do apart from training dolphins and jumping with them.
  3. An individual need to have the passion within himself for adventure.
How to become a Marine biologist query’s answer may seem to be easy but the things associated with it, is quite difficult. The individual really needs to work hard right from a very young age.

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